Here,
we prepared a series of novel osthole-type ester derivatives
modified in the lactone ring of osthole, which is isolated from Cnidium monnieri. The positions of H-3 and H-4 of
the representative compound 4z were determined by a 1H–1H COSY spectrum. By opening the lactone
ring of osthole, the double bonds at the C-3 and C-4 positions of
diol 3 and esters 4a–4z, 4a′, and 4b′ were still
retained as a Z configuration. That is, H-3 and H-4
of compounds 3 and 4a–4z, 4a′, and 4b′ were all in
the cis relationship. The steric configurations of 4k, 4v, and 4z were further undoubtedly
determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Against Tetranychus cinnabarinus Boisduval, four aliphatic
esters 4c (R = n-C3H7; LC50: 0.31 mg/mL), 4d (R = CH3(CH2)10; LC50: 0.24 mg/mL), 4a′ (R = CH3(CH2)9; LC50: 0.28 mg/mL), and 4b′ (R =
CH3(CH2)12; LC50: 0.32
mg/mL) showed the most promising acaricidal activity, and compounds 4c, 4d, and 4a′ also exhibited
a potent control efficiency. Especially, compound 4d exhibited
greater than fivefold acaricidal activity of the precursor osthole
(LC50: 1.22 mg/mL). Against Mythimna separata Walker, compounds 4g, 4l, and 4m displayed 1.6–1.8-fold
potent insecticidal activity of osthole. It demonstrated that the
lactone ring of osthole is not necessary for the agricultural activities,
thiocarbonylation of osthole was not beneficial for the agricultural
activities, introduction of R as an aliphatic chain is vital for the
acaricidal activity, notably, the length of the aliphatic chain is
related to the acaricidal activity, 4d could be further
studied as a lead acaricidal agent, and to the aromatic series, R
containing the fluorine atom(s) is important for the insecticidal
activity.