Naphthalene derivatives as termite repellents and toxicants

US7351744B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY AND AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE · US

Inventors

• Gregg Henderson · Gonzales, US
• Sanaa A. Ibrahim · Baton Rouge, US
• Rosemary Patton · Lake Charles, US
• Roger A. Laine · Baton Rouge, US
• Betty Zhu · Baton Rouge, US
• Feng Chen · Hubei, CN

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 14, 2003
• Grant date: Apr 1, 2008
• Expiry date: Jul 26, 2025

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S424/11
• WIPO field: Basic materials chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Several derivatives of naphthalene, including 1′-acetonaphthone, 2′-acetpnaphthone, 1-methoxynaphthalene, and 2-methoxynaphthalene, were discovered to be effective toxicants and repellents of termites, and resulted in significant reduction in termite feeding activity. For example, 2′-acetonaphthone was found to be an effective repellent and feeding deterrent of termites. Termites exposed to concentrations as low as 8 mg/kg sand exhibited a significant reduction in tunneling and feeding activity. Moreover, some of the dead termites had symptoms indicative of a failure to molt. At concentrations ≧20 μg/cm2, 2′-acetonaphthone was a strong repellent. Interestingly, at 160-fold lower concentration (0.125 μg/cm2), 2′-acetonaphthone stimulated termite feeding activity. As a sand barrier, 2′-acetonaphthone significantly inhibited tunneling and feeding activity in concentrations from 8.33 to 35.0 mg/kg. Molting problems were also identified in termites exposed to 2′-acetonaphthone.