NATURAL AND SYNTHETIC MATERIALS WITH INSECT HORMONE ACTIVITY .6. JUVENILE HORMONE EFFECTS OF SOME ALKYL-ETHERS DERIVED FROM ALIPHATIC BETA-HYDROXY ACIDS

While preparing substances with potential juvenile-hormone action on insects, we have synthesized and tested some alkyl ethers derived from esters of β-hydroxy acids. The new compounds exhibit juvenile hormone effects on Tenebrio, Pyrrhocoris and Dysdercus when the alkyl radical is geranyl or farnesyl. Hydrogenation of the double bonds of geranyl or farnesyl is followed by a loss of activity whereas hydrochlorination and epoxidation results in increased activity. The effects are weaker than those of some already known farnesenic acid derivatives, but the new compounds can be readily synthesized from more accessible sources. © 1969.