Design and synthesis of conformationally constrained analogues of cis-cinnamic acid and evaluation of their plant growth inhibitory activity.

1-O-cis-Cinnamoyl-β-D-glucopyranose is known to be one of the most potent allelochemical candidates and was isolated from Spiraea thunbergii Sieb by Hiradate et al. (2004), who suggested that it derived its strong inhibitory activity from cis-cinnamic acid, which is crucial for phytotoxicity. In this study, key structural features and substituent effects of cis-cinnamic acid (cis-CA) on lettuce root growth inhibition was investigated.

Substituent effects of cis-cinnamic acid analogues as plant growh inhibitors.

1-O-cis-Cinnamoyl-β-D-glucopyranose is one of the most potent allelochemicals that has been isolated from Spiraea thunbergii Sieb by Hiradate et al. It derives its strong inhibitory activity from cis-cinnamic acid (cis-CA), which is crucial for phytotoxicity. By preparing and assaying a series of cis-CA analogues, it was previously found that the key features of cis-CA for lettuce root growth inhibition are a phenyl ring, cis-configuration of the alkene moiety, and carboxylic acid.

Key structural features of cis-cinnamic acid as an allelochemical.

1-O-cis-cinnamoyl-β-D-glucopyranose is one of the most potent allelochemicals isolated from Spiraea thunbergii Sieb. It is suggested that it derives its strong inhibitory activity from cis-cinnamic acid, which is crucial for phytotoxicity. It was synthesized to confirm its structure and bioactivity, and also a series of cis-cinnamic acid analogues were prepared to elucidate the key features of cis-cinnamic acid for lettuce root growth inhibition.