Semisynthesis and acaricidal activities of isoxazole and pyrazole derivatives of a natural product bisdemethoxycurcumin

Sixteen isoxazole and pyrazole derivatives of bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC) modified in beta-diketone were synthesized, and their structures were confirmed by IR, H-1 NMR, C-13 NMR, MS and elemental analysis. Preliminary acaricidal activities against female adults of Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduval) and Panonychus citri (McGregor) were evaluated using the slide-dip method. The results indicated that some of these compounds exhibit more pronounced acaricidal activity than BDMC, especially compound 4, which displays acaricidal activity comparable to that of pyridaben. (C) Pesticide Science Society of Japan