Zhong Li

Divalent and Oxabridged Neonicotinoids Constructed by Dialdehydes and Nitromethylene Analogues of Imidacloprid: Design, Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Insecticidal Activities

A series of divalent and oxabridged neonicotinoids were synthesized by reactions of nitromethylene analogues of imidacloprid and dialdehydes, and their structures were confirmed by (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, high-resolution mass spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction analysis. The bioassays indicated that some of them were endowed with excellent insecticidal activities against cowpea aphid ( Aphis craccivora ), armyworm ( Pseudaletia separata Walker), and brown planthopper ( Nilaparvata lugens ). Divalent neonicotinoid 6 and oxabridged 8a had higher activities than imidacloprid against cowpea aphids and armyworm; furthermore, the activity of 8a was 40.4-fold higher than that of imidacloprid against imidacloprid-resistant brown planthopper.

cis-Configuration: a new tactic/rationale for neonicotinoid molecular design.

Resistance development and limited lepidopteran activities call for the discovery of super-neonicotinoids solving these problems. Compounds with the cis-configuration offer an opportunity for further optimization. Fixing the nitro group in the cis-configuration provided a new approach for neonicotinoid molecular design. Introductions of the heterocycle or a bulky group are two synthesis concepts to fix the cis-configuration of the nitro group. The design, synthesis, bioactivity, and preliminary modes of action of five types of cis-neonicotinoids are reviewed. cis- and trans-neonicotinoids have some differences in bioactivities and modes of action. This study focused, especially, on the reaction diversities of nitromethylene analogues of imidacloprid with various aldehydes.

Expedient synthesis of the tetracyclic core of ent-nakadomarin A.

An efficient eight-step assembly of the tetracyclic core (ABCD rings) of ent-(+)-nakadomarin A, a bioactive hexacyclic marine alkaloid, has been realized with Sonogashira coupling, platinum(II)-promoted cascade cyclizations, and saturation of a challenging carbon-carbon double bond through a hydroboration/oxidation/xanthate formation/Barton-McCombie deoxygenation sequence as key transformations.

Pyrrole- and Dihydropyrrole-Fused Neonicotinoids: Design, Synthesis, and Insecticidal Evaluation

Versatile pyrrole- and dihydropyrrole-fused neonicotinoids were obtained from cyclic and non-cyclic nitroeneamines. Anhydrous aluminum chloride (AlCl₃) exhibited high catalytic selectivity for the synthesis of the titled etherified compounds at room temperature and the eliminated products under reflux conditions. The target molecules have been identified on the basis of satisfactory analytical and spectral [¹H and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), and X-ray] data. All synthesized compounds have been screened for insecticidal activity. The preliminary insecticidal activity results showed that some of the aimed compounds displayed excellent insecticidal activity against cowpea aphids (Aphis craccivora).

Designing Tetrahydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine Derivatives via Catalyst-free Aza-Diels−Alder Reaction (ADAR) and Their Insecticidal Evaluation

A series of tetrahydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivatives were synthesized by the reaction of 2-vinyl-4,5-dihydroimidazole derivatives with substituted benzylidenemalononitrile via a catalyst-free aza-Diels-Alder reaction. Insecticidal activities of target compounds were tested against pea aphids ( Aphis craccivora ), which showed that activities were strongly influenced by the substituents and their positions. Especially, the introduction of a fluoro group at the 2- position increased activities.

Enantiocontrolled synthesis of (-)-9-epi-pentazocine and (-)-aphanorphine.

We have developed novel asymmetric routes to (-)-9- epi-pentazocine and (-)-aphanorphine from a d-tyrosine derivative. The tricyclic frameworks of (-)-9- epi-pentazocine and (-)-aphanorphine were assembled stereoselectively via intramolecular Friedel-Crafts reaction of the corresponding bicyclic precursors, generated with titanium-promoted enyne cyclization and indium-initiated atom-transfer radical cyclization, respectively.

Design, Synthesis, Crystal Structures, and Insecticidal Activities of Eight-Membered Azabridge Neonicotinoid Analogues

Three series of novel azabridge neonicotinoid analogues were designed and synthesized, which were constructed by starting material A, glutaraldehyde, and primary amine hydrochlorides (aliphatic amines, phenylhydrazines, and anilines). Most of the eight-membered azabridge compounds presented higher insecticidal activities than oxabridged compound B against cowpea aphid (Aphis craccivora) and brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens). Compared with imidacloprid, some azabridged compounds exhibited excellent insecticidal activity against brown planthopper. The crystal structures and bioassay indicated that changing bridge atoms from O to N could lead to entirely different conformations, which might be the important influential factor of the bioactivities.

Design, multicomponent synthesis, and bioactivities of novel neonicotinoid analogues with 1,4-dihydropyridine scaffold.

Novel neonicotinoid analogues bearing a 1,4-dihydropridine scaffold were designed and synthesized by multicomponent reactions (MCRs) to enhance pi-pi stacking. The synthesized compounds were identified by (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, high-resolution mass spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. Bioassay tests showed that some of them exhibited high insecticidal activities against pea aphid ( Aphis craccivora ).

Design, synthesis, and particular biological behaviors of chain-opening nitromethylene neonicotinoids with cis configuration.

On the basis of the structure of heterocyclic-fused cis configuration derivatives and chain-opening neonicotinoids, two series of novel chain-opening tetrahydropyridine analogues were designed and synthesized. The preliminary bioassay tests were determined on cowpea aphid (Aphis craccivora) and armyworm (Pseudaletia separata Walker). The results showed that some of the target compounds exhibited repellent effects, whereas others showed good insecticidal activities.

Design, synthesis, crystal structure analysis, and insecticidal evaluation of phenylazoneonicotinoids.

On the basis of research of the proposed modes of action between neonicotinoids and insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR), a series of phenylazoneonicotinoids were designed and synthesized to further promote the π-π interaction between molecule and amino acid residues. The target compounds have been identified on the basis of satisfactory analytical and spectral ((1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, HRMS, and X-ray) data. The preliminary results revealed that tiny differences in substitutes resulted in different configurations and great bioactivity variations. Some compounds with electron-donating groups on positions 2 and 6 of the phenyl ring presented higher insecticidal activity than imidacloprid against cowpea aphids ( Aphis craccivora ). The impressive crystal structure of the excellent insecticidal activity compound 9q clearly proved that the functional electronegative pharmacophore was approximately vertical to the methyleneimidazolidine plane. The differences in the mode of interaction on nAChR of typical compounds 9h and 9q remain unclear.