Acylurea

Acylureas (also called N-acylureas or ureides) are a class of chemical compounds formally derived from the acylation of urea.

Uses

Insecticides

A subclass of acrylureas known as benzoylureas are insecticides. They act as insect growth regulators by inhibiting the synthesis of chitin resulting in weakened cuticles and preventing molting. Members of this class include diflubenzuron, flufenoxuron, hexaflumuron, lufenuron, and teflubenzuron.

Anticonvulsants/Sedatives

The acylurea functional group is also found in some pharmaceutical drugs such as the anticonvulsants phenacemide, pheneturide, chlorphenacemide, and acetylpheneturide (which are phenylureides), and the sedatives acecarbromal, bromisoval, and carbromal (which are bromoureides). Others include apronal (apronalide), capuride, and ectylurea. As the barbiturates are basically cyclic ureas, these drugs are structurally and mechanistically related to them. The phenylureides are also closely related to the hydantoins, such as phenytoin, and may be considered ring-opened analogues of them.