Radical mediated stereoselective synthesis of meso-7,11-dimethylheptadecane, a female sex pheromone component of the spring hemlock looper and the pitch pine looper

The title compound was synthesized from ethyl 2-(bromomethyl)propenoate in nine steps and 14% overall yield. The key step in the synthesis is the depicted chelation-controlled diastereoselective radical reaction.