Plant‐growth‐regulating N‐(phosphonoacetyl)amines

A series of N-(phosphonacetyl)amine derivatives were synthesized and screened for plant-growth regulating activity on Lepidium sativum L. and Cucumis sativus L. Aromatic N-(phosphonoacetyl)amines. which may be considered as possible analogues of N-acylaniline herbicides obtained by replacement of their acyl group by the phosphonacetyl moiety, exhibited significant or moderate herbicidal activity. In contrast, N-(phosphonoacetyl)amino acids and N-(phosphonoacetyl)aminophosphonic acids promoted the growth of L. sativum and C. sativus roots.