Publications

In higher plants, jasmonates are lipid-derived signaling molecules that control many physiological processes, including responses to abiotic stress, defenses against insects and pathogens, and development. … Among jasmonates, omega-oxidized compounds form an important subfamily. The biological roles of these omega-modified derivatives are not fully understood, largely due to their limited availability. Herein, a brief (two-step), simple and efficient (>80% yield), versatile, gram-scalable, and environmentally friendly synthetic route to omega-oxidized jasmonates is described. The approach utilizes olefin cross-metathesis as the key step employing inexpensive, commercially available substrates and catalysts.

Small molecules capable of uncoupling growth-defense in plants are currently not known. In this study, for the first time, semi-synthetic analogues of the phytohormone JA-Ile are employed to uncouple … growth and defense responses in wild tobacco. The JA-Ile analogues are easily synthesized from inexpensive substrates via olefin metathesis.