Model Studies Towards the Insect Antifeedant Jodrellin A Using an Organoselenium-Mediated Cyclization Reaction.

Abstract An organoselenium mediated cyclization reaction of a β-ketolactone ( 5 ), was used as the key step in an efficient synthesis of the molecular skeleton of the insect antifeedant Jodrellin A ( 1 ). The model compound ( 2 ) shows significant activity against the African leaf worm Spodoptera littoralis , at 1000 ppm.