Experimental evaluation and structure–activity relationship analysis of bridged-ring terpenoid derivatives as novel Blattella germanica repellent

ABSTRACT

Cockroaches are urban pests that are very difficult to control. Using repellents is a green, safe and effective strategy for their control. In order to find novel cockroach repellents, the repellent activity of 45 bridged-ring terpenoid derivatives synthesized from β-pinene against Blattella germanica was tested. The relationship between the molecular structure of these bridged-ring terpenoid derivatives and their repellent activity against Blattella germanica was also analysed. The results show that some of the bridged-ring terpenoid derivatives exhibit good repellent activity against Blattella germanica, and six compounds (RR = 60.44–87.32%) show higher repellent activity against Blattella germanica than DEET (RR = 54.77%), making them promising for development as new cockroach repellents. Quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) analysis revealed that the HOMO-1 energy, Kier and Hall index (order 2), Balaban index, and relative positive charged surface area of bridged-ring terpenoid derivatives have effects on repellent activity against Blattella germanica. The present study may provide a theoretical basis for the high-value use of β-pinene and can be helpful to the development of novel repellents against Blattella germanica.

KEYWORDS:

• β-pinene
• terpenoid derivatives
• QSAR
• Blattella germanica
• repellent

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Supplemental data

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed at: https://doi.org/10.1080/1062936X.2022.2154838.

Additional information

Funding

This work was financially supported by the Youth Talent Project of Major Academic and Technical Leaders Training Program of Jiangxi Province [Grant number 20204BCJL23045], the major technology research and development project of Jiangxi Provincial Department of Science and Technology [20203ABC28W016], the Innovative Leading Talent Short-Term Project in Natural Science Area of Jiangxi Province [jxsq2018102072], and the Science and Technology Research Project of Jiangxi Provincial Department of Education [GJJ180223].