The invention provides novel phenoxyacetamide derivatives which are inhibitors of the enzymatic activity of Anopheles gambiae acetylcholinesterase, AgAChE, and have the general formula I, where R is selected from the group consisting of phenyl substituted with at least one substituent, naphthyl, thiophenyl and benzothiophenyl, which may be further substituted (C1 to C4) -alkyl, halogen or (C1 to C4) -haloalkyl.