Conformations of American Cockroach Sex Pheromone and its Mimic

Conformational analysis of Periplaneta americana sex pheromone, Periplanone B, and its mimic, Germacrene D, was carried out with molecular mechanics method. 18 equilibrium conformations of Periplanone B with energies 0–3 kcal/mol and 48 equilibrium conformations of Germacrene D with energies 0–7 kcal/mol were found. Two conformations of Germacrene D are similar to two lowest energy conformations of Periplanone B. We suggest that these two molecules may interact with the same molecular receptor.