In this paper, (S) and (R)-4-methyl-3-heptanone (1), one of the alarm pheromone of the leaf-cutting ant (Atta texana and Atta cephalotes), was synthesized from R-(+)-camphor derivative N-bornane-2,10-sultam (2) via asymmetric alkylation of N- acylbornane-2,10-sultam (3) with alkyl iodide, displacement of the sultam auxiliary with dilithiated ethyl phenyl sulfone and reductive desulfurization with aluminium amalgam. The enantiomeric excess of the total synthesis is over 95% e.e.

Key words: ALARM PHEROMONE, IODOHYDROCARBON, DESULFURIZATION, HEPTANONE P, SULFAMIDE P, LACTAM, BORNANE, ALKYLATION