Synthesis of benzoxazole derivatives of honokiol as insecticidal agents against Mythimna separata Walker.

Abstract A series of novel benzoxazole compounds derived from a naturally occurring neolignan honokiol were prepared. Their insecticidal activity was tested against the pre-third-instar larvae of oriental armyworm ( Mythimna separata Walker) in vivo. Most of the tested derivatives exhibited more potential insecticidal activity than their precursor honokiol at the concentration of 1 mg/mL. Especially compound 6e , containing 4-acetyloxyphenyl groups at the C8 and C8′ positions, displayed the most potent insecticidal activity with the final mortality rate of 62.1%.