The syntheses of 2-nitrobenzyl and 1(2-nitrophenyl)ethyl esters of the
plant hormones, gibberellin A(4), abscisic acid, jasmonic acid, 1-nap
hthylacetic acid and salicylic acid are described. These esters are re
adily photolysed to the corresponding free acids and, thus, are suitab
le for the photo-release of these hormones after loading into plant ce
lls.