Quantitative structure-activity relationships of mosquito larvicidal chalcone derivatives

The mosquito larvicidal activities of a series of chalcones and some derivatives were subjected to a quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) study, using more than a thousand constitutional, topological, geometrical, and electronic molecular descriptors calculated with Dragon software. The larvicidal activity values for 28 active compounds of the series were predicted, showing in general a good approximation to the experimental values found in the literature. Chalcones having one or both electron-rich rings showed high toxicity. However, the activity of chalcones was reduced by electron-withdrawing groups, and this was roughly diminished by derivatization of the carbonyl group. A set of six chalcones being structurally similar to some of the active ones, with a still unknown larvicidal activity, were prepared. Their activity values were predicted by applying the developed QSAR models, showing that two chalcones of such set, both 32 and 34, were expected to be highly active.