Syntheses and insecticidal activity of new 2-(5-(trifluoromethyl)pyridyloxymethyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazoles

Eight 2-(5-(trifluoromethyl)pyridyloxymethyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazoles have been designed and synthesized by four-step synthetic route. The structures of all new compounds were confirmed by 1H NMR, mass and HR mass spectroscopy. The preliminary bioassay tests show that some compounds, especially those having fluorine on the benzene ring (II4 and II5), exhibited a significant insecticidal activity on armyworm, Leucania separata Walker, at 500 mg l−1.