Acylureas (also called ''N''-acylureas or ureides) are a class of chemical compounds formally derived from the
acylation
In chemistry, acylation (or alkanoylation) is the chemical reaction in which an acyl group () is added to a compound. The compound providing the acyl group is called the acylating agent.
Because they form a strong electrophile when treated with ...
of
urea
Urea, also known as carbamide, is an organic compound with chemical formula . This amide has two amino groups (–) joined by a carbonyl functional group (–C(=O)–). It is thus the simplest amide of carbamic acid.
Urea serves an important r ...
.
Uses
Insecticides
A subclass of acylureas known as
benzoylurea
Benzoylureas are chemical derivatives of ''N''-benzoyl-''N′''-phenylurea (benzoylurea). They are best known for their use as insecticides. They act as insect growth regulators by inhibiting synthesis of chitin in the insect's body.
One o ...
s are
insecticide
Insecticides are substances used to kill insects. They include ovicides and larvicides used against insect eggs and larvae, respectively. Insecticides are used in agriculture, medicine, industry and by consumers. Insecticides are claimed to b ...
s. They act as
insect growth regulator
An insect growth regulator (IGR) is a substance (chemical) that inhibits the life cycle of an insect. IGRs are typically used as insecticides to control populations of harmful insect pests such as cockroaches and fleas.
Advantages
Many IGRs are la ...
s by inhibiting the synthesis of
chitin
Chitin ( C8 H13 O5 N)n ( ) is a long-chain polymer of ''N''-acetylglucosamine, an amide derivative of glucose. Chitin is probably the second most abundant polysaccharide in nature (behind only cellulose); an estimated 1 billion tons of chit ...
resulting in weakened
cuticles
A cuticle (), or cuticula, is any of a variety of tough but flexible, non-mineral outer coverings of an organism, or parts of an organism, that provide protection. Various types of "cuticle" are non- homologous, differing in their origin, structu ...
and preventing
molting
In biology, moulting (British English), or molting (American English), also known as sloughing, shedding, or in many invertebrates, ecdysis, is the manner in which an animal routinely casts off a part of its body (often, but not always, an outer ...
.
Members of this class include
diflubenzuron
Diflubenzuron is an insecticide of the benzoylurea class. It is used in forest management and on field crops to selectively control insect pests, particularly forest tent caterpillar moths, boll weevils, gypsy moths, and other types of moths. I ...
, flufenoxuron, hexaflumuron,
lufenuron
Lufenuron is the active ingredient in the Veterinary medicine, veterinary flea control medication Program, and one of the two active ingredients in the flea, heartworm, ringworm and anthelmintic medicine milbemycin oxime/lufenuron (Sentinel).
Luf ...
, and teflubenzuron.
Anticonvulsants and sedatives
The acylurea functional group is also found in some pharmaceutical drugs such as the
anticonvulsant
Anticonvulsants (also known as antiepileptic drugs or recently as antiseizure drugs) are a diverse group of pharmacological agents used in the treatment of epileptic seizures. Anticonvulsants are also increasingly being used in the treatment of b ...
s
phenacemide
Phenacemide (INN, BAN) (brand name Phenurone), also known as phenylacetylurea, is an anticonvulsant of the ureide (acetylurea) class. It is a congener and ring-opened analogue of phenytoin (a hydantoin), and is structurally related to the b ...
,
pheneturide
Pheneturide (INN, BAN) (brand names Benuride, Deturid, Pheneturid, Septotence, Trinuride), also known as phenylethylacetylurea (or ethylphenacemide), is an anticonvulsant of the ureide class. Conceptually, it can be formed in the body as a metabo ...
,
chlorphenacemide, and
acetylpheneturide (which are phenylureides),
and the
sedative
A sedative or tranquilliser is a substance that induces sedation by reducing irritability or excitement. They are CNS depressants and interact with brain activity causing its deceleration. Various kinds of sedatives can be distinguished, but t ...
s
acecarbromal
Acecarbromal (INN) (brand names Sedamyl, Abasin, Carbased, Paxarel, Sedacetyl, numerous others), also known as acetylcarbromal and acetyladalin, is a hypnotic and sedative drug of the ureide (acylurea) group discovered by Bayer in 1917 that was fo ...
,
bromisoval
Bromisoval (INN), commonly known as bromovalerylurea, is a hypnotic and sedative of the bromoureide group discovered by Knoll in 1907 and patented in 1909. It is marketed over the counter in Asia under various trade names (such as ''Brovarin'') ...
, and
carbromal
Carbromal is a hypnotic/sedative originally synthesized in 1909 by Bayer and subsequently marketed as Adalin. The drug was later sold by Parke-Davis in combination with pentobarbital, under the name Carbrital.
Synthesis
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