Synthesis of the Racemic Form of (Z)‐1, 17‐Diaminooctadec‐9‐Ene, An Aliphatic Diamine From Coccinellidae, Determination of the Absolute Configuration of the (+)‐Naturally‐Occurring Antipode

The total synthesis of the title compound (1) has been achieved. Also reported is the use of lanthanide induced shifts in 1 H NMR spectroscopy to assign the absolute configuration of the α‐carbon atom in chiral primary α‐methylalkylamines. Application of this empirical method to natural (+)‐1 shows that it has the R‐configuration at C‐17.