Synthesis of substituted alkoxy benzene minilibraries, for the discovery of new insect olfaction or gustation inhibitors

We describe methods for the rapid generation of minilibraries of substituted alkoxy benzenes (consisting of 4-5 compounds), for screening as insect olfaction or gustation inhibitors. Synthetic or commercially available monoalkoxy benzene compounds were mixed and reacted with various alkyl halides to afford a first set of minilibraries. A second and third set were generated from allyloxy minilibraries via the Claisen rearrangement and subsequent alkylation of the ortho-allyl phenols. We have chosen to prepare a collection of small libraries (as opposed to one large library) to test the response insects exhibit toward blends of compounds. We demonstrate how our minilibraries can be screened, both against insect antennae and against expressed pheromone-binding proteins from the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar.