Resolution of (±)-Methyl Jasmonate by High Performance Liquid Chromatography and the Inhibitory Effect of (+)-Enantiomer on the Growth of Rice Seedlings

Abstract

(±)-Methyl jasmonate (JA-Me) was resolved by preparative high performance liquid chromatography of its diastereomeric ketal with (-)-2, 3-butanediol to give optically pure (+)-JA-Me, while the optical purity of the (-)-form obtained by the resolution was 81.2-81.9%. The inhibitory activity of (+)-JA-Me on the growth of rice seedlings was found to be lower than that of the naturally occurring (-)-form, the (+)-form being still fairly potent.