Efficient Approach To Discover Novel Agrochemical Candidates: Intermediate Derivatization Method

Abstract

Intensive competition of intellectual property, easy development of agrochemical resistance, and stricter regulations of environmental concerns make the successful rate for agrochemical discovery extremely lower using traditional agrochemical discovery methods. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find a novel approach to guide agrochemical discovery with high efficiency to quickly keep pace with the changing market. On the basis of these situations, here we summarize the intermediate derivatization method (IDM) between conventional methods in agrochemicals and novel ones in pharmaceuticals. This method is relatively efficient with short time in discovery phase, reduced cost, especially good innovated structure, and better performance. In this paper, we summarize and illustrate "what is the IDM" and "why to use" and "how to use" it to accelerate the discovery of new biologically active molecules, focusing on agrochemicals. Furthermore, we display several research projects in our novel agrochemical discovery programs with improved success rate under guidance of this strategy in recent years.

Design, Synthesis and Antifungal Activity of Coumarin Ring-Opening Derivatives

“…As the structural core, coumarin occurs widely in natural products, drugs and agrochemicals (Figure 1), these important applications have generated considerable interest in this ring system and various fused coumarin derivatives have been reported [3][4][5][6]: Osthole, a natural O-methylated coumarin found in Cnidium Monnieri, a traditional Chinese herbal medicine that has been used as as a fungicidein China for a long history,and shows antifungal activity against Rhizoctonia solani and a broad spectrum of other phytopathogenic fungi [7][8][9]; Warfarin and Acenocoumarol are anticoagulants normally used in the prevention of thrombosis and thromboembolism, function as the vitamin K antagonists [10][11][12]; and Coumoxystrobin (SYP-3375) is a coumarin-containing strobilurin fungicide that contains an (E)-methyl 3-methoxy-2-phenylacrylate substructure and displays a broad spectrum of antifungal activity [13][14][15]. In our previous work, Osthole was used as the lead structure to carry out structural optimization, and some synthesized furan [3,2-c]coumarin derivatives showed potent antifungal activity [16][17][18].…”

Design, synthesis, insecticidal, and acaricidal activities of novel pyrimidinamine derivatives containing a biphenyl ether

“…Encouraged by these experience, a series of novel pyrimidinamine derivatives containing a biphenyl ether moiety 9a ‐ p as shown in Figure were designed and synthesized on the base of active group splicing principle and intermediate derivatization method, a recently reported approach to discover agrochemical candidates more efficiently . And an optimization program modifying parts of A and B as shown in Figure was also carried out.…”

Design, synthesis and insecticidal evaluation of aryloxy dihalopropene derivatives

“…[4][5][6][7] Among these three approaches, the terminal group replacement method has been proven as an effective and practical method. [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] It is well-known that the aryloxyphenyl derivatives have been widely used in agriculture.…”