| RefNo | EC/1979/09 |
| Previous numbers | Cert XX, 142 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Elliott, Michael: certificate of election to the Royal Society |
| Date | 1974 |
| Description | Citation typed |
| Citation | Distinguished for his fundamental studies of the relationships between chemical structure and biological activity in the pyrethroids. Using this basic knowledge, he progressively modified the alcohol and acid fragments of the natural pyrethrin molecule to produce an important new group of potent, safer insecticides. Two such products, resmethrin and bioresmethrin, have been used internationally in commercial insecticides, but their instability in air and light limited potential applications in horticulture and agriculture. Recent new compounds (NRDC 143 and 161), designed to eliminate the centres of phot-instability, are not only more light-stable but have enhanced potency, being considerably more active than DDT and dieldrin: in contrast to the organochlorine insecticides, they exhibit only moderate environmental persistence (sic) and toxic residues should not accumulate. Agrochemical industry has shown widespread interest in acquiring licences to manufacture NRCD143 and 161. Elliot's work is essentially inter-disciplinary, linking synthetic chemistry with the biochemistry and physiology of insects. |
| AccessStatus | Closed |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA6192 | Elliott; Michael (1924 - 2007) | 1924 - 2007 |