Pesticidal efficacy of some innovative phenyl benzoate-based heterocycles against <i>Tetranychus urticae</i> (Koch) and <i>Spodoptera littoralis</i> (Boisd.): biochemical aspects and <i>in silico</i> studies

It is very desirable to develop new pesticide lead compounds to reduce the increasing resistance in agricultural pests caused by the widespread usage of agrochemicals. This study assessed the synthesis of novel hydrazones and heterocycles as potential pesticidal agents. The pesticidal efficacy of the synthesized compounds was assessed against <i>Tetranychus urticae</i> (Koch) and <i>Spodoptera littoralis</i> (Boisd.). Amongst the tested derivatives, compounds 3, 4, 10, 12, 13, 16, and 17 exhibited outstanding activity against 4th instar larvae of <i>S. littoralis</i> and adult females of <i>T. urticae</i>. The effect of the promising derivatives on some key enzymes of both pests clarified the mode of action of the outstanding derivatives. A molecular docking study was performed for the synthesized compounds against AChE and GST targets, which revealed the good affinity between the tested compounds and the target proteins in comparison with reference ligands. In addition to identifying promising pesticidal candidates, this study provides a robust framework for developing next-generation pest management techniques that tackle resistance issues and promote sustainable agricultural practices.