Cinnamic acid derivatives in agrochemicals: current use and future perspective

Cinnamic acid (CA) and its derivatives are widely used in various fields because of their robust, broad-spectrum biological activities and eco-friendly properties. To date, their applications in food, cosmetics, and medicine have been extensively reviewed; however, the applications of CA derivatives in agrochemicals have not been comprehensively summarized.

This review aims to summarize the structures and bioactivities of CA and its derivatives used as pesticides. Furthermore, it highlights the need for greater attention to the development of novel, highly efficient, and low-cost structural scaffolds through AI-assisted molecular design.

Based on the available literature, this review summarizes the current structures and functions of CA and its derivatives in pesticides, including their plant growth-regulating, antiviral, bactericidal, fungicidal, herbicidal, insecticidal, and acaricidal activities. Furthermore, greater attention should be given to discovering novel structural scaffolds that are both effective and inexpensive through artificial intelligence-assisted molecular design. This review identifies future directions for advancing research on CA derivatives in agrochemicals and provides valuable references and fresh perspectives for researchers in pesticide chemistry.