The mixture of 1:1 ratio of Z-and E-3-octene-1-ol (1a) and (6a) which is the key intermediate for synthesis of the sex pheromone of the pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella), namely Z, Z-and Z, E-7, 11-hexadecadiene-1-ol acetates, (4) and (5), respectively, has been prepared from the readily available Z-3-octene-1-ol (1a) by olefin isomerization with HNO3-NaNO2 at 50C. Similary, mixtures of 7:3 and 1:1 ratio of Z-and E-11-tetradecene-1-ol acetates, (3) and (8), which are the sex pheromones of Asiatic leaforller, Archippus breviplicanus and Ostrinia obrumbratalis, respectively, have been prepared from Z-11-tetradecene-ol-acetate (3).

Key words: NITRIC ACID, CARBOXYLIC ACID ESTER, MONOHYDRIC ALCOHOL, ALKENE P, C14 COMPOUNDS, OCTENE P, SEX PHEROMONE, ISOMERIZATION REACTION, SODIUM NITRITE, ACETIC ACID P