Pyrethroid insecticides Chapter IVa. Reactivity of chrysanthemic acid and its lower esters

The reactivity of chrysanthemic acid and of its "lower esters" (methyl, ethyl, isopropyl and t-butyl) has played a crucial role in their structure elucidation, the discovery of new insecticides and in the understanding of their environmental fate. The reactivity of the carboxylic acid moiety and of its esters, that of the isobutenyl moiety and that of the cyclopropane ring are orthogonal to each other. The fact that this compound class is of relevance for industry has increased the diversity of the reactions disclosed especially that in the patented literature that associates science and economy and is at the roots of the green chemistry.