Abstract: | A series of dialkyl phosphorofluoridates and alkyl methylphosphono-fluoridates in which one or two of the alkyl moieties were long-chain alkyl groups were synthesized and examined for their ability to disrupt moth sex pheromone-mediated behavior of the oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta. Disruption of pheromone-mediated behavior was found only for those compounds containing a (Z)-8-dodecenyl moiety, i.e. the alkyl substituent of the principal pheromone component ((Z)-8-dodecenyl acetate) of the oriental fruit moth. Di-((Z)-8-dodecenyl) phosphorofluoridate was nearly as disruptive as (Z)-8-dodecenyl acetate. |