cis-Nitenpyram Analogues Containing 1,4-Dihydropyridine: Synthesis, Insecticidal Activities, and Molecular Docking Studies

A novel series of cis-nitenpyram analogues (2a2p) were designed and prepared by introducing the 1,4-dihydropyridine, with their cis-configuration confirmed by X-ray diffraction. Preliminary bioassays showed that most compounds exhibited good insecticidal activities at 20 mg/L against Aphis medicagini, and analogues 2a and 2d afforded the best activity, and both of them had 100% mortality at 4 mg/L. In addition, molecular docking studies were also performed to model the ligand-receptor complexes, and the results explained the structure-activity relationships observed in vitro, which may provide some useful information for future design of new insecticides.