Fipronil insecticide: Novel photochemical desulfinylation with retention of neurotoxicity

摘要

Fipronil is an outstanding new insecticide for crop protection with good selectivity between insects and mammals. The insecticidal action involves blocking the γ-ami- nobutyric acid-gated chloride channel with much greater sensitivity of this target in insects than in mammals. Fipronil contains a trifluoromethylsulfinyl moiety that is unique among the agrochemicals and therefore presumably impor- tant in its outstanding performance.