ABSTRACT

In Nigeria, local farmers and traders apply pesticides on crops like cowpeas to keep them fresh and protect them from infestation by common pests such as weevils. Many pesticides like organochlorines are highly lipophilic, get attached to these crops, and are difficult to get rid of. These pesticides are highly toxic to humans and can persist in the environment for a long period. This practice is very unhealthy as pesticide residues are left on the crops and when consumers ingest these harmful substances, it can interact with drugs or food, leading to several health complications.

Chalcones are gaining attention for their diverse biological application, especially in the fields of medicine and agriculture. These compounds belong to a class of organic compounds and are characterized by their basic structure of two aromatic rings linked by an α, β-unsaturated carbonyl system.

This study centers on synthesizing chalcones and evaluating their potential use as insecticides. It also seeks to proffer better alternatives to already existing synthetic pesticides through chalcone synthesis which could be a better option. The method employed in the synthesis is known as the Claisen-Schmidt condensation and it involves the condensation of an aromatic aldehyde and a ketone having an α hydrogen under basic conditions to form a chalcone.

The results showed that the chalcones synthesized had insecticidal activity against weevils from cowpea (Bean weevil) at different concentrations, however, further studies and toxicity testing are required to ensure its safety.

Significant insecticidal action was demonstrated by the synthesized chalcones, these findings highlight their potential for further development as commercial pesticides. This research contributes to advancing eco-friendly insecticides and highlights the possibility of chalcones as effective options in approaches to pest control amid rising insecticide resistance