Insecticidal rocaglamide derivatives from Aglaia spectabilis (Meliaceae)

Bark of Aglaia spectabilis collected on the island of Phu Quoc (Vietnam) yielded insecticidal cyclopentatetrahydrobenzofurans of the rocaglamide type including four new natural products. Structure elucidation of the new compounds is described. All rocaglamide derivatives isolated exhibited strong insecticidal activity towards neonate larvae of the polyphagous pest insect Spodoptera littoralis when incorporated into an artificial diet. LC50 values varied from 0.8 to 80 ppm. The most active compounds isolated, methylrocaglate and C-3' hydroxylmethylrocaglate, were similar with regard to their insecticidal activity to the well-known natural insecticide azadirachtin.