PLANT-GROWTH REGULATING ACTIVITIES OF 2-[2-(ARYLAMINO)-2-OXOETHYL]BENZOIC ACIDS .2.

Following the research on 2-[2-(arylamino)-2-oxoethyl]benzoic acids, r eported in a previous paper, the Authors describe the preparation and the antigravitropic activity of a series of derivatives where the aryl portion is represented by a phenyl ring substituted with alkoxycarbony lic, alkylaminocarbonylic and alkylaminosulphonylic groups. The ter. b utoxycarbonyl derivatives 11-13 were shown to be the active compounds, probably due to the steric hindrance to the estereal hydrolysis, lead ing to the inactive carboxylic acid. Moreover a series of 2-[2-(hetero arylamino)-2-oxoethyl]benzoic acids are studied, were the heteroaryl i s a pyridyl or a quinolyl group. The 3-quinolyl derivative 25 shows th e highest activity among the compounds of the class. The position of t he heterocyclic N atom in each molecule could account for different el ectronic and/or conformational effects, and could influence a good fit on the receptor site