ABSTRACT
Many existing insecticides are in reality proinsecticides, in that an activation step is required to unmask the active toxicant [1-3]. Recently, more effort has been invested in the deliberate design of proinsecticidal agents, generally by chemical derivatization of known toxophoric groups. In this chapter we seek to expand the proinsecticide concept to include new targets for destruction, new enzyme systems for chemical unmasking, and new modes of inhibition. First, some basic concepts of the prodrug paradigm will be elaborated. Second, these precepts will be applied to proinsecticide design. Third, a compilation of proinsecticidal compounds and their sites of activation and action will be presented. Finally, we offer a prospectus for future directions for research on proinsecticides.
