Synthesis method for thiosulfonate and report of its insecticidal activity in Anagasta kuehniella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences 2012-11, Vol.13 (11), p.15241-15251
• Main Authors: Dos Santos, Edson Dos A, Gonçalves, Fernando M, Prado, Paulo César, Sasaki, Daniele Y, de Lima, Dênis P, Macedo, Maria Lígia Rodrigues
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural production; Anagasta kuehniella; Animals; Diet; Economic importance; Economics; Flour; Grain; Insect Control; Insecticides; Insecticides - administration & dosage; Insecticides - chemical synthesis; Insecticides - pharmacology; Larva; Lepidoptera; Moths - drug effects; Pests; Pyralidae; Survival; Thiols; Thiosulfonic Acids - administration & dosage; Thiosulfonic Acids - chemical synthesis; Thiosulfonic Acids - pharmacology
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms131115241

Insect pests have caused economic losses valued at billions of dollars in agricultural production. Anagasta kuehniella (Zeller), the Mediterranean flour moth, is of major economic importance as a flour and grain feeder and is often a severe pest in flourmills. This study provides a suitable route for the direct preparation of thiosulfonates 2 and 3 from thiols, under mild conditions, with good yields; these thiosulfonates were tested for their regulatory effect on insect growth. The chronic ingestion of thiosulfonates resulted in a significant reduction in larval survival and weight. In addition, the tryptic activity of larvae was sensitive to these thiosulfonates. Results suggest that thiosulfonates 2 and 3 have a potential antimetabolic effect when ingested by A. kuehniella. The use of AgNO(3)/BF(3)·OEt(2) and Al(H(2)PO(4))(3)/HNO(3) provides a suitable route for the direct preparation of thiosulfonates from thiols under mild conditions with good yields. These thiosulfonates were toxic for A. kuehniella larvae, suggesting their potential as biotechnological tools.