Synthesis and Insecticidal Activity of Lignan Analogs (II).

The influence of the 6-methoxy-2-methoxymethyl-3-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-1,4-benzodioxan-7-yl group on the insecticidal activity of haedoxans was studied by synthesizing an analog without the (methoxymethyl)methinoxy moiety of the benzodioxanyl group to test for its activity on the housefly. The inactivity of the analog and its satellite compounds implies that the (methoxymethyl)methinoxy moiety is essential for the biological activity of haedoxans.