ACTIVITY OF 2-(1-ALKENYL)-3-HYDROXY-1,4-NAPHTHOQUINONES AND RELATED-COMPOUNDS AGAINST MUSCA-DOMESTICA

A series of 2-(1-alkenyl)-3-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinones has been prepared and their toxicities assessed against Musca domestica. By comparison with analogous compounds having saturated 2-alkyl substituents, or unsaturated substituents with an unconjugated double bond (e.g. lapachol), it was demonstrated that the .alpha.-unsaturation of the substituent is responsible for a significant increase in the toxicity. The effect of the compounds against several other insect species and Tetranychus urticae follows completely different patterns.