Synthesis of Novel Phenoxyacetamide Derivatives as Potential Insecticidal Agents Against the Cotton Leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis

A number of interesting N-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-phenoxyacetamide derivatives were synthesized through interaction of N-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-(4-formylphenoxy)acetamide (1) with cyanoacetamide derivatives 2a-e, hydrazine derivatives, activated nitriles and acetophenone to yield novel acrylamide, hydrazone, acrylonitrile and chalcone derivatives, respectively. Acrylamide derivatives 3a-e were used as precursors for synthesis of 2-pyridone derivatives comprising phenoxyacetamide moiety. The structures of the newly synthesized compounds were avowed by different spectroscopic techniques such as FT-IR, H-1-NMR, C-13-NMR, and mass spectroscopy. Finally, the insecticidal efficacy of the newly synthesized phenoxyacetamide derivatives was tested using the cotton leafworm Spodoptera littoralis. Among all, compounds 12, 6 b and 6c exhibited excellent results.

Automated summary

A series of interesting N-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-phenoxyacetamide derivatives were synthesized and their structures were confirmed by spectroscopic techniques. Some of these compounds exhibited good insecticidal efficacy.