Progress and Perspectives of Furanone Derivatives in Pesticide Chemistry

Abstract

Furanone and its derivatives, featuring five-membered oxygen-containing heterocyclic rings, offer broad-spectrum bioactivities and favorable environmental compatibility, making them valuable pharmaceutical and agrochemical agents. Although their pharmaceutical applications have been extensively reviewed, a comprehensive summary of their agrochemical uses is lacking. This review provides a concise overview of the synthetic approaches and structural modification strategies for furanones, systematically examines their structural diversity, and outlines their insecticidal, fungicidal, antiviral, herbicidal, and plant growth–regulating activities. Additionally, the mechanisms of action of representative compounds are discussed in detail. Furthermore, this review highlights the potential of artificial intelligence–based drug design, particularly for the discovery of novel, highly efficient, and ecofriendly structures. This review offers strategic perspectives for the future design and development of green, efficient furanone-based agrochemicals.