Oxygen-containing analogues of juvenile hormone III

Juvenile hormone III (JH-III) controls several aspects of insect development, and analogues of JH-III are widely used as insect control agents. Recent reports suggest that these compounds may also perturb the normal development of crustaceans, and perhaps other aquatic species. In an attempt to prepare more highly degradable (and thus less environmentally persistent) mimics of JH-III, we prepared a series of analogues incorporating vinyl ether functionality. The stability of these compounds in water or warm, moist air was evaluated, revealing two distinct decomposition pathways.