Synthesis of Brassinolide: A Plant Growth Steroid

摘要

Brassinolide, a growth-promoting steroid, is found in a wide variety of plants, such as corn, rice, wheat, and mustard. The plant steroid has growth-promoting activity at a concentration of 10 to the minus 9 power M. Commercial application of brassinolide in agriculture has been retarded by the lack of readily available brassinolide. Researchers sought to develop a novel synthesis that would permit large scale synthesis of brassinolide and also the synthesis of brassinolide analogs that could be more potent than brassinolide in promoting growth. During the Phase I period, about 5 grams of a key stable brassinolide precursor were synthesized. Using established research, the side chain will be added to the precursor.