Chemical structure and physical properties of candidate insecticides in relation to residual toxicity to adult mosquitos

Data are presented on changes in physical properties and insecticidal activity resulting from modifications in chemical structure in two groups of compounds. The first group consists of propoxur and three closely related N-methylcarbamates and the corresponding N-acetyl compounds The parent compounds are all highly toxic to adult mosquitos by topical application in solution and deposits from water-dispersible powder formulations on plywood and plaster of Paris panels have long residual activity. N-acetylation is not accompanied by excessive loss of toxicity to mosquitos, but increases volatility to the extent that none of the four N-acetyl derivatives can be considered as potential residual insecticides. The second group consists of tetrachlorvinphos and related vinyl phosphates and vinyl phosphorothionates which show a wide range of toxicity both to adult mosquitos and to mammals.     

N-arylamidines and N-arylimidates of substituted acetic acids and their insecticidal and acaricidal properties

The synthesis of N-arylamidines and N-arylimidates of substituted acetic acids is described. Those amidines and imidates possessing a phosphorus ester as substituent showed insecticidal and high acaricidal properties. By contrast, their precursors were ineffective.     

Effects of diazepam and chlordimeform analogs on the German and the American cockroaches

Twenty-one diazepam- and chlordimeform (CDM)-related compounds were synthesized by mimicking some parts of the 1,4-benzodiazepine tranquilizing drugs, and were tested for their insecticidal activity against the German cockroach. Some of these compounds showed knockdown effects and some were insecticidal. Against the German cockroach the most toxic CDM analog was N-propargyl CDM (compound 6), and that with a potent knockdown potency was compound 13 which has a structural resemblance to diazepam. Ligand-receptor binding assay was carried out, using [³H]diazepam as a ligand to examine the relation between CDM-related compounds and the 1,4-benzodiazepines. The [³H]diazepam binding to a specific site in the American cockroach brain was inhibited by the insecticidal compounds. Among these compounds a correlation exists between their inhibitory potency on specific [³H]diazepam binding and their insecticidal activity, suggesting a possible significance of such an interaction with the diazepam binding site for the toxicity of these compounds against cockroaches.     

Synthesis and insecticidal activities of unsymmetrical bis-arylalkyl ketones. A new structural concept in pyrethroids

Seventeen unsymmetrical bis-arylalkyl ketones were synthesised and their insecticidal activities against Musca domestica, Locusta migratoria, Drosophila melanogaster, Dysdercus cingulatus, Aedes aegypti and Tetranychus urticae were tested. The synergistic effect of piperonyl butoxide on the activities of some of the new ketopyrethroids against Musca domestica was also determined. Several structural variations, including substituent exchange in the aryl moieties, the position of the ketone function and increase or decrease of the length of the carbon chain connecting the two aryl moieties, were made in order to examine the structure-activity relationship. All biological activities were compared with the activity of the ether pyrethroid 2-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methylpropyl 3-phenoxybenzyl ether (MTI-500).     

Synthesis and pesticidal activity of some quinazolin-4(3H)-one derivatives

A number of quinazolin-4(3H)-one carbothioamides, pyrazoles, pyrazolones and tetrazole derivatives have been synthesised by the reaction of 2-hydrazino-3-(4-substituted phenyl)-quinazolin-4(3H)-ones with the appropriate aryl isothiocyanate, acetyl acetone, ethylacetoacetate and nitrous acid. All the compounds were tested in vitro for antibacterial, insecticidal and antifungal activity and found to have some activity.     

2-arylalkanoates,a new group of synthetic pyrethroid esters not containing cyclopropanecarboxylates

Although structure modifications of natural pyrethrin constituents have disclosed a variety of potent synthetic analogues, all known examples are cyclopropanecarboxylate esters, a grouping that appeared to be essential for insecticidal activity. Some new substituted 2-phenylalkanoates, whose biological activities are of a similar nature and potency to those of conventional pyrethroids, are now reported. 5-Benzyl-3-furylmethyl and 3-phenoxybenzyl 3-methyl-2-phenylbutyrates and their analogues are potent insecticides. Activity is increased on the introduction of appropriate groups into the 3 and/or 4-positions of the aryl ring and the (S)-2-phenylalkanoates are far more active than their (R)-enantiomorphs. Structure/activity relationships are compared with those for conventional pyrethroids. Some of the new series compare favourably with typical insecticides in tests against Musca domestica, Spodoptera litura and Plutella xylostella.     

Synthesis and insecticidal activity of nitroguanidine derivatives

Nitroguanidine derivatives with thiazol-5-ylmethyl moieties were prepared and their insecticidal activities against homopterous pests were tested. New synthetic routes for 2-chloro-5-chloromethylthiazole from 2,3-dichloro-1-propene and for substituted nitroguanidines from S-methyl-N-nitroisothiourea were established. Biological evaluation led to a novel insecticide (E)-1-(2-chlorothiazol-5-ylmethyl)-3-methyl-2-nitroguani dine (TI-435) which has a broad activity spectrum and is under development. ©1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Synthesis and insecticidal and acaricidal activity of new N-(α-substituted phenoxybenzyl)-4-pyrimidinamines

A new class of insecticides and acaricides containing N-(α-substituted phenoxybenzyl)-4-pyrimidinamines as core structure were synthesized and their insecticidal and acaricidal potencies assessed. Among these, both the N-(3 or 4-phenoxybenzyl)-4-pyrimidinamine showed remarkable activity against diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella L., brown rice planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stal) and two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch. The potency of the new pyrimidinamines was particularly increased when a methyl, ethyl, iso-propyl, or cyclopropyl group was introduced at the α-position of benzyl moiety and it was evident that a single (+) optical isomer is more active than its antipode. Structure-activity relationships are discussed.     

Muscarinic Agonists as Insecticides and Acaricides

A series of known agonists of the mammalian muscarinic receptor were prepared and evaluated for their insecticidal potential. It was discovered that pests such as Nilaparvata lugens (brown planthopper), Nephotettix cincticeps (green leafhopper), Tetranychus urticae (two-spotted spider mite) and Aphis gossypii (cotton aphid) were particularly sensitive to most of these compounds. Several analogs proved to be extremely active, surpassing commercial standards in some of the laboratory bioassays. These compounds exhibited a range of potencies for the insect (Musca) muscarinic receptor. Addition of GTP significantly reduced the affinity of the most potent analog for the Musca mAChR, indicating the compound functions as an agonist in insect tissue. Regression analysis indicated that significant relationships exist between displacement of [³H]QNB at the Musca muscarinic receptor and whole organism toxicity to three insect and one mite species. The results suggested that the insect muscarinic receptor represents a viable target site for insecticidal action. © 1997 SCI.     

Stereochemical basis for the insecticidal activity of carbamoylated and acylated pyrazolines

Methyl 3-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-[N-(4-chlorophenyl)carbamoyl]-4-methyl-2-pyrazoline-4-carboxylate was converted to corresponding (1R)- and (1S)-phenethyl esters via its carboxylic acid and acid chloride at the C-4 atom to separate the diastereomers. Their configurations were confirmed by X-ray analysis. Both isomers of the (1R)methylbenzyl ester were subjected to transesterification with sodium methoxide to obtain enantiomers of the starting methyl ester. Their insecticidal activity was measured against American cockroaches (Periplaneta americana (L.)) by injection and against house flies (Musca domestica L.) by topical application under various synergistic conditions with metabolic inhibitors. The activity values of the four α-methylbenzyl esters and the R-isomer of the starting methyl ester were similar. The S-enantiomer of the methyl ester was about 10 and 100 times more active than the R-isomer against the cockroach and the fly, respectively. Some N-arylacetyl and N-aryloxyacetyl derivatives of the starting N-(4-chlorophenyl)carbamoyl compound gave very low activity. Conformation-energy profiles for some compounds suggested that the conformation of substituents on the N-1 atom in the pyrazoline ring has a specific role for the potential insecticidal effects.     

Mitochondrial impacts of insecticidal formate esters in insecticide‐resistant and insecticide‐susceptible Drosophila melanogaster

BACKGROUND: Previous research on insecticidal formate esters in flies and mosquitoes has documented toxicity profiles, metabolism characteristics and neurological impacts. The research presented here investigated mitochondrial impacts of insecticidal formate esters and their hydrolyzed metabolite formic acid in the model dipteran insect Drosophila melanogaster Meig. These studies compared two Drosophila strains: an insecticide‐susceptible strain (Canton‐S) and a strain resistant by cytochrome P450 overexpression (Hikone‐R). RESULTS: In initial studies investigating inhibition of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase, two proven insecticidal materials (hydramethylnon and sodium cyanide) caused significant inhibition. However, for insecticidal formate esters and formic acid, no significant inhibition was identified in either fly strain. Mitochondrial impacts of formate esters were then investigated further by tracking toxicant‐induced cytochrome c release from mitochondria into the cytoplasm, a biomarker of apoptosis and neurological dysfunction. Formic acid and three positive control treatments (rotenone, antimycin A and sodium cyanide) induced cytochrome c release, verifying that formic acid is capable of causing mitochondrial disruption. However, when comparing formate ester hydrolysis and cytochrome c release between Drosophila strains, formic acid liberation was only weakly correlated with cytochrome c release in the susceptible Canton‐S strain (r² = 0.70). The resistant Hikone‐R strain showed no correlation (r² < 0.0001) between formate ester hydrolysis and cytochrome c release. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study provide confirmation of mitochondrial impacts by insecticidal formate esters and suggest links between mitochondrial disruption, respiratory inhibition, apoptosis and formate‐ester‐induced neurotoxicity. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Increased toxicity of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry3Aa against Crioceris quatuordecimpunctata,Phaedon brassicae and Colaphellus bowringi by a Tenebrio molitor cadherin fragment

BACKGROUND: Biopesticides containing Cry insecticidal proteins from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are effective against many lepidopteran pests, but there is a lack of Bt‐based pesticides for efficient control of important coleopteran pests. Based on the reported increase in Bt toxin oligomerization by a polypeptide from the Cry3Aa receptor cadherin in Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), it was hypothesized that this cadherin peptide, rTmCad1p, would enhance Cry3Aa toxicity towards coleopteran larvae. To test this hypothesis, the relative toxicity of Cry3Aa, with or without rTmCad1p, against damaging chrysomelid vegetable pests of China was evaluated. RESULTS: Cry3Aa toxicity was evaluated in the spotted asparagus beetle (Crioceris quatuordecimpunctata), cabbage leaf beetle (Colaphellus bowringi) and daikon leaf beetle (Phaedon brassicae). To assess the effect of rTmCad1p on Cry3Aa toxicity, neonate larvae were fed Cry3Aa toxin alone or in combination with increasing amounts of rTmCad1p. The data demonstrated that Cry3Aa toxicity was significantly increased in all three vegetable pests, resulting in as much as a 15.3‐fold increase in larval mortality. CONCLUSION: The application of rTmCad1p to enhance Cry3Aa insecticidal activity has potential for use in increasing range and activity levels against coleopteran pests displaying low susceptibility to Bt‐based biopesticides. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Synthesis and Insecticidal Activity of Novel Pyrazole Methanesulfonates

A model has been used to design novel pyrazole methanesulfonates. The pyrazole carboxamide methanesulfonates demonstrated insecticidal activity with low levels of acute mammalian toxicity. The amides formed from amines with α-branching (e.g. isopropyl and sec-butyl) demonstrated the highest level of activity. The model has also been used to design novel pyrazole sulfonamide methanesulfonates with very high levels of insecticidal activity. Most of the sulfonamides also possessed significant acute mammalian toxicity. Rice paddy field testing of the carboxamides on field population hoppers gave poor results. © 1997 SCI     

O-ethyl O-isopropyl O-(5-methoxy-1-methyl-6-oxo-1H-pyridazin-4-yl) phosphorothioate,a new experimental insecticide and acaricide

The insecticidal and acaricidal action, anti-cholinesterase activity and toxicity to rats of a new experimental pesticide, O-ethyl O-isopropyl O-(5-methoxy-1-methyl-6-oxo-1H-pyridazin-4-yl) phosphorothioate ( I ), and those of some by-products found in the technical material, are described. High insecticidal and acaricidal effectiveness of I was found in laboratory and field trials. The activity as a soil insecticide in field trials was equal to, or greater than, that of other chemicals used at present.     

Growth variation among Bacillus thuringiensis strains can affect screening procedures for supernatant‐secreted toxins against insect pests

BACKGROUND: Supernatant‐secreted proteins in Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner) (Bt) with insecticidal activity provide an important source of information for discovery of new useful strains and/or entomotoxins. However, physiological variation among isolates might interfere in the detection efficiency of screening procedures on Bt collections. The aim of this study was to assess the magnitude of this variation in a sample of isolates from a tropical Bt collection, which was gauged through the assessment of their temporal patterns of growth and protein secretion in culture supernatants (SNs), as well as of the corresponding toxicity against fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda, JE Smith). Feeding bioassays were performed, with larvae being treated with heated and non‐heated total protein extracted from SNs collected at different culture times. Larva mortality and reduction in pupa formation were observed. RESULTS: Intra‐ and interisolate variations were observed in the temporal patterns of growth, quality and quantity of protein secreted, as well as in insecticidal activity of these SNs, based on larvae mortality and pupation rates. These results suggest that the insecticidal potential of certain isolates can be hidden if comparisons are done on the basis of the same number of cells in the culture and/or the same culturing time. CONCLUSIONS: Methods of screening Bt collections on the basis of feeding bioassays can be misleading with regards to identifying more promising isolates for biocontrol purposes if physiological differences are not considered. The consequences and implications of these findings for the development of experimental systems that depend on toxicity bioassays to identify alternative Bt strains and entomotoxins with practical applicability have been discussed. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

The pyrethrins and related compounds; Part XXIV: synthesis, 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance spectra and insecticidal activity of cycloalkyl analogues of fenvalerate

Close isosteres of fenvalerate [(RS)-α-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl (RS)-2-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-methylbutyrate], in which cyclopropyl groups replace isopropyl have insecticidal activity close to or greater than the parent compounds, and diminished intravenous toxicity to rats. A direct toxicological relationship of these compounds to fenvalerate itself and to chrysanthemate esters is indicated by the consistently greater activity of esters from one of an enantiomeric pair of acids. Other esters with larger alkyl or cycloalkyl groups, or spiropentane analogues of chrysanthemates are less active insecticides. ¹³C-Nuclear magnetic resonance spectra suggest that in the α-cyanobenzyl esters there is an intramolecular through-space interaction in solution. The relationships between the chemical structures of the compounds synthesised and their relative activities to different insect species and toxicity to rats are discussed.     

Effects of cultural conditions on fungal biomass,blastospore yields and toxicity of fungal secreted proteins in batch cultures of Metarhizium anisopliae (Ascomycota: Hypocreales)

BACKGROUND: Recently, two fungal proteins with apparent molecular masses of 11 and 15 kDa and insecticidal activity against Ceratitis capitata (Wied.) have been purified from the crude soluble protein extract (CSPE) secreted by the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) Sorokin (strain EAMa 01/58‐Su) in Adamek's liquid medium. The feasibility of culturing this strain in fermentation facilities in order to harvest and formulate the insecticidal proteins for C. capitata control is mainly dependent on the ability to produce high concentrations of the active proteins at a reasonable cost. RESULTS: These studies report that, in batch cultures of EAMa 01/58‐Su strain, the carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) ratios and sources are important considerations with respect to fungal biomass production, blastospore yield and secretion of insecticidal proteins against C. capitata adults. The data indicate that the type and concentration of N source in the medium influence the production of insecticidal protein and thus the toxicity of the CSPEs. The electrophoretic analysis suggests that the monomer of 11 kDa plays an important role in the insecticidal effect described. Concerning biomass production, no clear differences were found between media with different C and N sources and C:N ratios in total biomass production at day 7. Conversely, important differences were found among the media in terms of blastospore yields. CONCLUSIONS: By optimising the culture media, the insecticidal effect of the CSPE against C. capitata can be improved. In the CSPE from G₄₀:P₂₀ (40 g L^?1 glucose and 20 g L^?1 peptone in dH₂O), the LC₅₀ and the LT₅₀ were 7 and 4.5 times lower than in the CSPE obtained from Adamek. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Cholinergic Activity of Selected Methanesulfonate Insecticides. A Pharmacological Profile

Three previously reported methanesulfonate insecticides, 6-isobutylthio-2-pyridyl methanesulfonate ( I ) and its sulfoxide ( II ) and sulfone ( III )analogues were examined in two insect species Lucilia cuprina and Blattella germanica and in tissues from vertebrates. The results of B. germanica tests and cholinesterase assays confirmed the insecticidal activity of the compounds, with cholinesterase inhibition being the most likely mode of insecticidal action. The inactivity of the sulfide I and sulfoxide II in vertebrate in-vitro studies may indicate that conversion, in vivo, of the sulfide and sulfoxide methanesulfonates to the sulfone ( III ) is a requirement for activity. In mouse toxicity tests, matching high toxicity was observed for the alkylthio-, alkylsulfoxy- and alkylsulfone analogues indicating fast metabolic oxidation of the injected alkylthio- and alkylsulfoxy-compounds. However, in in-vitro tissue tests, the sulfone, although active, did not exhibit the characteristic pharmacological profile of the standard acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, physostigmine. The sulfone demonstrated a mixed action, with indications that it acts as an inhibitor of specific cholinesterase isozymes, or that it may modify responses at cholinoceptors.     

The synthesis of potential insecticides designed to bind to the acetylcholine receptor

A variety of compounds designed to bind to the acetylcholine receptor, a largely unexploited target for new insecticides, have been prepared. These are related to either the isothiocyanates prepared previously in our laboratory, which probably bind to the receptor, or to nereistoxin, which is known to do so. Many of the compounds are insecticidal, and electro-physiological studies on a candidate compound, N,N-dimethyl-3-thiocyanato-2-(thiocyanatomethyl)propionamide, suggest they may have the predicted mode of action.