Abstract A new route to the synthesis of 2-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methyl-5-(3-phe-noxyphenyl) pentane (desfluoro MTI-800) and 2-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methyl-5-(4-fluoro-3-phenoxyphenyl) pentane (MTI-800) and the insecticidal activities of these compounds and some of the synthetic intermediates against the tobacco caterpillar Spodoptera litura (F.) is reported.
