Synthesis of Compounds with Juvenile Hormone Activity

Part VII. A Convenient Non-stereoselective Synthesis of the C₁₈-Cecropia Juvenile Hormone and its Analogues; Effect of the Terminal Alkyl Substituents on Biological Activity

Abstract

A new and convenient non-stereoselective synthetic route to the C₁₈-Cecropia juvenile hormone (as a stereoisomeric mixture) was developed. Employing this method, several juvenile hormone analogues with various alkyl groups at the terminal position were synthesized as stereoisomeric mixtures. Two analogues with two ethyl groups or n-propyl and methyl groups at the terminal position were more active than the C₁₈-Cecropia juvenile hormone onTenebrio molitor and Tribolium castaneum.