Synthesis and Application of Nine Novel Analogs of Trypsin Modulating Oostatic Factor (TMOF) in the Mosquito, Aedes aegypti

Abstract

The search continues for an environmentally safe, low cost, fast acting insecticide formosquitoes. Mosquitoes have been the cause of large-scale epidemics, such as yellowfever, dengue fever, and dengue hemorrhagic fever over the centuries. Even now, due tothe increase in the Aedes aegypti population, the threat still exists. In this research, six of nine compounds were synthesized as potential analogs of the decapeptide TMOF(trypsin modulating oostatic factor), which has already been identified as a growthinhibitor in mosquitoes. The nine compounds were derived from three different startingmaterials and six were completed in eight or fewer steps. These compounds were tested for larvacidal activity by feeding studies using Aedes aegypti. The compound 7-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-4-heptenoic acid resulted in the lowest LC50, 0.62mM.