Studies on Plant Growth Regulators

The auxin activities of the homologs of racemic and enantiomeric α-alkylphenylacetic acids were estimated by pea straight growth test. The α-methyl, -ethyl and -propyl acids were moderately active whereas the longer and branched alkyl chain were found to make the molecule inactive. The more active enantiomers were shown to have the same configuration as the more active enantiomers in the other series of the optical active synthetic auxins.

The auxin activities of the cyclic homologs of 1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydro- and 3, 4-dihydro-1- naphthoic acids were determined by pea straight growth test. In the tetrahydro-acid series, it was observed that the alicyclic ring expansion from the 6-membered to the 7-membered made the molecule inactive. In the 3, 4-dihydro-acid series, on the other hand, the activity remained almost unchanged by such a structural change. Structure-activity relationships were discussed in terms of their molecular structures, in particular, the configuration of the carboxyl group.