Cinnamamides: a review of research in the agrochemical field

Abstract The need for implementation of economically viable agrochemicals with lower toxicity and that are capable of overcoming resistance developed by insects, fungi and invasive plants has spurred the scientific community in the search for new active and selective substances and synthetic methodologies that adhere to the parameters of green chemistry. Cinnamamides, in turn, present a scaffold that has been a basis for various investigations due to their broad spectrum of biological activities. The agrochemical industry is a vast field in which these classes of compounds stand out, whether for their potential herbicidal, fungicidal, nematicidal, or insecticidal properties. Therefore, this review reports the progress of synthesis and the agrochemical potential of cinnamamides, their mechanism of action, and their structure–activity relationship (SAR), to provide insights for further research addressing the use of cinnamamides in crop protection. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.