Synthesis and plant growth promoting activity of polyhydroxylated ketones bearing the 5α-hydroxy-6-oxo moiety and cholestane side chain

Three polyhydroxylated ketones bearing the 5 alpha-hydroxy-6-oxo moiety were obtained from cholesterol. Two of them show plant growth promoting activity in the bean's second internode bioassay. The obtained results indicate that the presence of the 5 alpha-hydroxy-6-oxo moiety may be capable to induce plant growth promotion even the absence oxygenated functions in the side chain. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.