Abstract: A method of attracting the Mediterranean fruit fly by subjecting the Mediterranean fruit fly to an attractant, wherein the attractant is ethyl (1R,2R,5R)-5-iodo-2-methylcyclohexane-1-carboxylate in an enantomeric excess of at least 70% and a regio- and diastereochemical purity of >5:1. The compound ethyl (1R,2R,5R)-5-iodo-2-methylcyclohexane-1-carboxylate, in an enantomeric excess of at least 70% and a regio- and diastereochemical purity of >5:1, may be stereoselectively synthesized on a multigram scale in 15% yield by reacting ethyl (1R,2R,5S)-5-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-carboxylate with Ph3P-imidazole-I2 (or Ph3P-2,6-lutidine-I2) in a carbon tetrachloride/methlylene chloride mixture. The 1R,2R,5R enantiomer is significantly more attractive than its enantiomeric counterpart (1S,2S,5S), or either of the commercial products trimedlure or ceralure, each a mixture of 16 regio and stereoisomers.