A convenient stereoselective synthesis of 16-hydroxy-9Z,12Z, 14E-octadecatrienoic acid (1), 9-hydroxy-10E,12Z,15Z-octadecatrienoic acid (2), 9-hydroxy-10E-octadecenoic acid (3) and 10-hydroxy-8E-octadecenoic acid (4), the four self defensive substances in rice plant and timothy plant are described.

A practical synthesis of (R)-3-butene-1,2-diol derivatives from (R,R)-tartaric acid and their applications for the syntheses of (R)-ethyl-5-benzoyloxy-5-formyl pentanoate (2), a useful synthon for the preparation of arachidonic acid metabolites and (R)-γ-caprolactone (3), a pheromone of Trogoderma species, are described.

Described herein is a convenient synthesis of coriolic acid (1) and dimorphecolic acid (2), the two natural ionophores derived respectively from bovine heart mitochondria and also shown to be self defensive substances in rice plant against rice blast disease.