N′-Nitro-2-hydrocarbylidenehydrazinecarboximidamides: Design, Synthesis, Crystal Structure, Insecticidal Activity, and Structure–Activity Relationships

A novel series of acyclic imine-substituted nitenpyram analogues were designed and synthesized from nitroaminoguanidine, and their structures were confirmed using X-ray diffraction crystallography. Preliminary bioassays showed that the target molecules exhibited good activities against aphids in laboratory (Myzus persicae Sulzer) and field trials (M. persicae Sulzer and Brevicoryne brassicae Linnaeus). Comparative molecular field analysis and comparative molecular similarity indices analysis were employed to develop a three-dimensional quantitative structure–activity relationship model that describes the insecticidal activity of 21 neonicotinoid derivatives. Simple synthesis, low cost, and good insecticidal activity have made this series of compounds become very promising candidates for future commercial pesticides.