Pyrimidine Derivatives: Research Advances and Prospects in the Discovery of New Pesticides

Pyrimidine derivatives have emerged as a key molecular scaffold in the discovery and development of new pesticides due to high efficacy and broad-spectrum biological activities, especially the discovery of new insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides. In view of the significant advances of pyrimidine derivatives in novel pesticide development, a comprehensive update on recent research progress is warranted. We systematically reviewed the insecticidal, herbicidal, fungicidal, antibacterial, nematicidal, and antiviral activities of pyrimidine derivatives. Additionally, we summarized synthetic methods for representative compounds, analyzed their active fragments and structure-activity relationship (SAR), and examined the mechanisms of action. This comprehensive analysis aims to provide novel insights into developing new pyrimidine-based pesticides.