title: Synthesis and stereostructure-activity relationship of three asymmetric center pyrethroids: 2-methyl-3-phenylcyclopropylmethyl 3-phenoxybenzyl ether and cyanohydrin ester.
abstract: 2-Methyl-3-phenylcyclopropylmethyl 3-phenoxybenzyl ether 2 and cyanohydrin ester 3, a couple of pyrethroids with three asymmetric centers, were synthesized. Of each of the four diastereomers of 2 and 3, only the (1R*,2R*,3R*)-2a and 3a showed significant insecticidal activities. Dual sets of enantiomers [(1R,2R,3R)-(-)-2a and (1S,2S,3S)-(+)-2a] and [(1R,2R,3R)-(-)-3a and (1S,2S,3S)-(+)-3a] were synthesized through the asymmetric cyclopropanation using the Aratani catalyst. Significant separations of insecticidal activities were observed between both the enantiomers against the tobacco cutworm (Spodoptera litura) and the common mosquito (Culex pipiens pallens); (1S,2S,3S)-(+)-2a and (+)-3a showed higher activities than their antipodes (1R,2R,3R)(-)-2a and (-)-3a. This result is the second example of such synthetic pyrethroids with three asymmetric centers.
authors.affiliation: The Physical Chemical Research Institute (RIKEN), Wako, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishii
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maruyama
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wakasugi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tanabe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D009033:Culicidae; D007306:Insecticides / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D011722:Pyrethrins / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018411:Spodoptera; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D011722:Pyrethrins