Acylureas (also called N-acylureas or ureides) are a class of chemical compounds formally derived from the acylation of urea.
Uses
Insecticides
A subclass of acylureas known as
are
. They act as insect growth regulators by inhibiting the synthesis of
chitin resulting in weakened cuticles and preventing
moulting.
Members of this class include
diflubenzuron, flufenoxuron, hexaflumuron,
lufenuron, and teflubenzuron.
Anticonvulsants and sedatives
The acylurea functional group is also found in some pharmaceutical drugs such as the
phenacemide,
pheneturide,
chlorphenacemide, and acetylpheneturide (which are phenylureides),
and the
acecarbromal,
bromisoval, and
carbromal (which are
). Others include
apronal (apronalide), capuride, and ectylurea.
(a class of cyclic ureas) are structurally and mechanistically related to them.
The phenylureides are also closely related to the
, such as
phenytoin, and may be considered ring-opened analogues of them.
Related
Diureides
A diureide is a complex nitrogenous substance regarded as containing two molecules of urea or their radicals, e.g.
uric acid or
allantoin.
Hydantoins
Hydantoin, or glycolylurea, can be considered the cyclic form of acylurea.