Synthesis and Insecticidal Activity of Novel 1-Benzoyl-3-phenylurea Derivatives with Polyfluoroethylsulfenyl, -sulfonyl, and-sulfinyl Substituents

Abstract

In the course of modifying substituents on the 3-phenyl moiety of 1-benzoyl-3-phenylurea compounds known as potent insect growth regulators, we prepared those having polyfluoroethylsulfenyl, -sulfinyl, and-sulfonyl substituents at the 4-position and second ones (halogen, methyl) at other positions, and investigated their larvicidal activity against lepidopterous insects. Most of sulfenyl derivatives (4) had the excellent activity as we had expected, and to our surprise some of sulfonyl (2) and sulfinyl derivatives (3) also showed effectiveness comparable to that of 4. It was considered the larvicidal activity of these compounds was enhanced under good balance of key substituents at the 4-position and additional ones at the 2-position on the 3-phenyl ring system.