Analysis of established pyrethroid insecticides.

Abstract

Pyrethroids are outstanding insecticides discovered through intense research on the structural requirements for bioactivity of pyrethrin I, the most insecticidally active constituent of pyrethrum extract (Elliott 1977 and 1980, Elliott and Janes 1978 and 1979). Pyrethrum has been an ideal insecticide, selective, and with very little effect on warm-blooded animals (Casida 1980). However, its use has been constantly restrained by shortages of the world market supplies caused by a decline in the production of the crude natural product. Therefore, the development of synthetic, pyrethrin-type insecticides has been pressingly needed.