trans-Trimedlure, 1,1-dimethylethyl 4(and 5)-chloro-trans-2-methylcyclohexane-1-carboxylate (TML), is a mixture of four isomers and is the survey and detection lure for the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann). It is significantly more attractive than cis-TML, 1,1-dimethylethyl 4(and 5)-chloro-cis-2-methylcyclohexane-1-carboxylate, which is also a mixture of four isomers. Relatively large quantities of cis-TML can be added to trans-TML without affecting attraction, thus, commercial TML, which normally contains 5–10% cis-TML, is as attractive as pure trans-TML. This finding is important in establishing quality control standards for TML used in survey and detection programs. By use of epimerization reactions, the four trans-isomers, whose structures are known, were converted to their cis counterparts. The structural identification of each cis isomer was, thus, established.
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McGovern et al. (1986) studied this question.