Synthetic bis- and mono-chalcones with insecticide effects on Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

This is the first report on the antifeedant, toxic and nutritional effects produced by the synthetic chalcones on the lepidopteran Spodoptera frugiperda followed by structure-activity relationship. Bis (5a-c) and mono (8a-d) chalcones have been synthesized via Claisen-Schmidt condensation and have been purified and characterized. The mono chalcones 8b and 8d displayed toxic effects on early larval instars when incorporated to the larval diet at 100 µg per g of diet (40 and 60%, respectively) and low adults emergency with malformations leading to death. The remaining chalcones 8a, 8c, 5a, 5b and 5c do not displayed toxic effects at the same dose. The evaluation of nutritional indices indicated that 8a and 8c were the only tested chalcones to produce decrease in the growth rate and to reduce the efficiency with which larvae converted ingested food into biomass.