Chromenediones as potential plant growth regulators

Sesquiterpene lactones (SLs) have in their skeleton fifteen carbons and constitute a group of compounds with several biological activities. Because of their wide spectra of biological activities related with their ecological role as defense compounds, we have selected chromenediones as one of the most promising candidates for further studies. According to IUPAC nomenclature chromene is a polycyclic organic compound formed from the fusion of a benzene ring to a heterocyclic pyran ring. Santonin, a commercially available eudesmanolide, was employed as starting material for the synthesis of the chromenediones.