RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN STRUCTURE AND ACTIVITY OF MALEIC HYDRAZIDE ANALOGUES AND RELATED COMPOUNDS

Abstract

The growth inhibiting activities of a number of compounds structurally related to maleic hydrazide have been examined using the technique of bud growth inhibition. The degree of inhibitory activity of maleic hydrazide derivatives depended on the ease with which the plant can split off substituents. Straight-chain compounds which partially resemble maleic hydrazide were not as active as the parent compound and ring closure was necessary for full activity. Residue data for some of the tested compounds showed that activity failure was not due to lack of uptake and translocation. The analytical procedure for maleic hydrazide is shown to be valid for the quantitative determination of N-hydroxymethyl-MH and N-benzoyl-MH.