Antimosquito properties of 2-substituted phenyl/benzylamino-6-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-methoxycarbonyl-4-methyl-3,6-dihydropyrimidin--ium chlorides against Anopheles arabiensis.

Eight novel dihydropyrimidine analogs named DHPM1-DHPM8 was synthesized in their hydrochloride salt form using one pot synthesis between methyl 2-chloro-4-(4-chlorophenyl)-6-methyl-1,4-dihydropyrimidine-5-carboxylate and substituted arylamines in isopropanol. The antimosquito effect of the test compounds were assessed against the adult mosquito Anopheles arabiensis. For adulticidal properties the test compounds were sprayed onto ceramic tiles and screened using the cone bio-assay method. The larvicidal activity was tested by monitoring larval mortality daily and up to 3 days of exposure. Repellency properties were tested in a feeding-probe assay using unfed female Anopheles arabiensis. Compounds DHPM1, DHPM4, DHPM5 and DHPM6 exerted larval mortality equivalent to temephos (trade name Abate, a commercial larvicidal compound). Compounds DHPM1 to DHPM5 repelled or knocked down 92 to 98% of mosquitoes exposed to rodent skin treated with the compounds. None of the compounds showed any significant activity against the adult mosquito Anopheles arabiensis.