A structure-activity study to evaluate the effect of 17 guaianolide sesquit
erpene lactones (in a range of 100-0.001 muM) on the growth and germination
of several mono- and dicotyledon target species is accomplished. Results a
re compared with those obtained in the same bioassay with an internal stand
ard, the commercial herbicide Logran, to validate the results with a known
active formulation and to compare the results with a commercial product to
test their potential use as natural herbicide models. Specific conditions f
or the selective mono- or polyhydroxylation of guaianolides using the SeO2/
tert-butyl hydroperoxide system are presented and discussed. The high regio
- and stereoselectivities of the reaction are explained through the specifi
c structural requirements of the bulky first adduct formed during the ene r
eaction. These compounds appear to have deeper effects on the growth of eit
her monocots or dicots than the previously tested germacranolides. Otherwis
e, the lactone group seems to be necessary for the activity, though it does
not necessarily need to be unsaturated. However, the presence of a second
and easily accessible unsaturated carbonyl system greatly enhances the inhi
bitory activity. Lipophilicity and the stereochemistry of the possible anch
oring sites are also crucial factors for the activity. Finally, the levels
of growth inhibition obtained with some compounds on dicots or monocots are
totally comparable to those of Logran and allow proposing them as lead com
pounds.