Mosquito Repellents Based on a Natural Chromene Analogue with Longer Duration of Action than N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET)

• Published in: Journal of agricultural and food chemistry 2013-10, Vol.61 (39), p.9293-9297
• Main Authors: Meepagala, Kumudini M, Bernier, Ulrich R, Burandt, Charles, Duke, Stephen O
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aedes - drug effects; Aedes aegypti; Amyris; Animals; Anopheles - drug effects; Behavior, Animal - drug effects; Benzopyrans - chemical synthesis; Benzopyrans - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; deet; DEET - pharmacology; dengue; Female; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Insect Bites and Stings - prevention & control; Insect Repellents - chemical synthesis; Insect Repellents - pharmacology; Kinetics; methanol; mosquito-borne diseases; Osmolar Concentration; pathogens; repellents
• ISSN: 0021-8561; 1520-5118
• DOI: 10.1021/jf402635z

Mosquito repellents play a major role in reducing bites and therefore mitigating transmission of mosquito-borne diseases. There is concern by some about the reported neurotoxic effects of the popular repellent DEET. Also, a product with longer effective activity after application is needed. This paper describes the synthesis and repellent activity of (2,2 dimethyl-2H-chromen-5-yl)­methanol, a derivative of chromene amide that is a compound from the plant Amyris texana. This compound is more potent and provides longer duration of protection than DEET against Aedes aegypti (L.), the primary vector that transmits pathogens causing yellow and dengue fevers in humans.