Structural requirements for repellency: norsesquiterpenes and sesquiterpenoid derivatives of nootkatone against the Formosan subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae).
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.
Zhu
Betty C R
BC
Department of Entomology, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Louisiana Agricultural Experimental Station, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.
Henderson
Gregg
G
Sauer
Anne M
AM
Crowe
William
W
Laine
Roger A
RA
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
D007302:Insect Repellents; D000081223:Polycyclic Sesquiterpenes; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C050302:nootkatone