title: Structural requirements for repellency: norsesquiterpenes and sesquiterpenoid derivatives of nootkatone against the Formosan subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Research has shown that the family of grapefruit flavors called nootkatones have significant repellant and toxic effects to Formosan subterranean termites (Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nineteen synthetic nootkatone derivatives, along with three commercially available nootkatone derivatives, were tested for repellent activity against C. formosanus by a choice assay in a petri dish with a two-step triage procedure. Based on the repellency threshold value, the relationships between structure and activity are discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Four derivatives of nootkatone have very high repellency and toxicity to C. formosanus, 9 times the potency of the primary compound nootkatone. Four other compounds have between 2 and 3 times the repellency of nootkatones, and three compounds are equal in their repellency to nootkatone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Louisiana Agricultural Experimental Station, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.
authors.forename: Betty C R
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Gregg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: Anne M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sauer
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Crowe
authors.forename: Roger A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Laine
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007302:Insect Repellents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020049:Isoptera / Q000187:drug effects*; D000081223:Polycyclic Sesquiterpenes; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D007302:Insect Repellents; D000081223:Polycyclic Sesquiterpenes; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C050302:nootkatone