Design and Synthesis of Novel 4-Hydroxyl-3-(2-phenoxyacetyl)-pyran-2-one Derivatives for Use as Herbicides and Evaluation of Their Mode of Action

revealed that the novel triketone structure is a proherbicide of its corresponding phenoxyacetic acid auxin herbicide, which has a herbicidal mechanism similar to that of 2,4-D. The present work indicates that the 4-hydroxyl-3-(2-phenoxyacetyl)-pyran-2-one motif may be a potential lead structure for further development of novel auxin-type herbicides.