cis ‐Nitenpyram Analogues Containing 1,4‐Dihydropyridine: Synthesis, Insecticidal Activities, and Molecular Docking Studies

A novel series of cis ‐nitenpyram analogues ( 2a – 2p ) were designed and prepared by introducing the 1,4‐dihydropyridine, with their cis ‐configuration confirmed by X‐ray diffraction. Preliminary bioassays showed that most compounds exhibited good insecticidal activities at 20 mg/L against Aphis medicagini , and analogues 2a and 2d afforded the best activity, and both of them had 100% mortality at 4 mg/L. In addition, molecular docking studies were also performed to model the ligand‐receptor complexes, and the results explained the structure‐activity relationships observed in vitro , which may provide some useful information for future design of new insecticides.