Synthesis and Physiological Activity of Methyl 6', 6'-Didemethyl Abscisate and New Chiral Analogs

Abstract

Methyl 6', 6'-didemethyl abscisate (5) was synthesized and assayed to elucidate the physiological activity of methyl substituents on the cyclohexene ring of abscisic acid (ABA). During this study two new chiral stereoisomeric analogs 6 and 7 were synthesized from l- and d-carvone. The rice seedling assay and germination assay of garden radish showed that 6'-methyl groups of ABA were not important in biological activity and that 5'-isopropenyl analogs 6 and 7 were inactive.