Synthesis and insecticidal activity of new substituted N-aryl-N′-benzoylthiourea compounds

Eight new substituted N-aryl-N′-benzoylthioureas have been synthesised by a facile and mild method with high yield at room temperature. The structures of all compounds were confirmed by 1H NMR, mass and high resolution mass spectroscopy. The preliminary bioassay tests show that two of the compounds (5b and 5e) exhibited a significant insecticidal activity on armyworm, Leucania separata Walker, at 500 mg l−1.