Carbamate-Modified Pyrido[1,2- a ]pyrimidinones: Design and Synthesis of Insecticides with High Efficacy and Low Bee Toxicity
Megoura crassicauda, a sap-feeder on legumes, remains a persistent threat, yet current control depends largely on neonicotinoids that pose serious risks to beneficial pollinators. We herein describe a set of new pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidinone derivatives bearing a carbamate moiety attached via a methylene spacer at the 2-position. Insecticidal bioassays identified H3 as the most potent analogue against M. crassicauda, comparable to the commercial standard TFM. Encouragingly, H3 exhibited remarkably low toxicity to honeybees, with acute oral and contact LD50 values of 24.0 and 35.1 μg a.i./bee, respectively, which were markedly higher than those of TFM. Mechanistic studies combining proteomics, enzymatic assays, and molecular docking consistently suggested that H3 disrupts neuronal homeostasis via interfering with nAChR and AChE activity, leading to insect mortality. This work provides a promising and bee-safe lead for sustainable pest management, offering a new molecular template for the development of highly selective insecticides.