(S)-(+)-4,4,4-Trifluoro-3-(indole-3-)butyric acid, a novel fluorinated plant growth regulator

Abstract

Racemic 4,4,4-trifluoro-3-(indole-3-)butyric acid (TFIBA) has been synthesized and shown to inhibitAvena coleoptile elongation. (S)-(+)-TFIBA (fig. 1), which was prepared by an enzymatic method and markedly promotes root growth of Chinese cabbage, lettuce and rice plants, is a novel fluorinated plant growth regulator. Activity of the (S)-(+)-enantiomer of TFIBA was 10-fold greater than that of the (R)-(−)-enantiomer in the first two plant species and 5-fold greater in rice.