SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PYRROLIC NITROGEN ATOM IN RECEPTOR RECOGNITION OF ATTA-TEXANA (BUCKLEY) (HYMENOPTERA, FORMICIDAE) TRAIL PHEROMONE AND PARA-PHEROMONES

Calculations of the charge of the pyrrolic nitrogen atom in the trail pheromone of Atta texana, methyl 4-methylpyrrole-2-carboxylate, as well as 17 analogs, showed that the most active compounds all had the same charge of -0.51 electrons on the nitrogen atom. It is suggested that the close value for this charge may be important in recognition by the receptor. © 1979 Plenum Publishing Corporation.