Sulfonamide Derivatives as ABA Agonists for Crop Yield
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for improved abscisic acid agonists that can enhance plant growth, development, and tolerance to environmental stresses such as drought, while being more stable and cost-effective than abscisic acid itself, which is difficult and expensive to produce and unstable under environmental conditions.
Innovation Solution
Development of novel sulfonamide derivatives that act as abscisic acid agonists, specifically compounds of Formula (I) with defined structural characteristics, which can bind to PYR/PYL receptors, mimicking the effects of abscisic acid to regulate plant growth and stress responses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If abscisic acid is applied to improve plant water use efficiency and stress tolerance, then plant tolerance to abiotic stress is improved, but abscisic acid is unstable to environmental conditions and expensive to prepare
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates synthetic compounds (quinabactin and related sulfonamide derivatives) that copy the molecular structure and biological activity of abscisic acid. These analogs bind to the same PYR/PYL receptor proteins and trigger the same stomatal closure and stress response pathways, but with improved environmental stability and lower production costs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the chemical structure of abscisic acid by changing specific molecular parameters - replacing the carboxylic acid group with sulfonamide groups, adjusting side chain lengths and substitutions. These parameter changes maintain the core bioactivity (receptor binding) while improving stability to environmental conditions like light, heat, and pH
2Reliability
If abscisic acid is used for large scale agricultural applications, then plant growth regulation and stress tolerance are achieved, but abscisic acid is difficult and expensive to prepare
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of manufacturing the complex natural abscisic acid molecule, the patent develops simplified synthetic analogs with analogous bioactivity. The sulfonamide derivatives replicate the essential receptor-binding features while using more readily available starting materials and simpler synthesis routes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a strategy of creating inexpensive synthetic compounds that can be produced at low cost for large-scale agricultural use. The sulfonamide derivatives are designed to be economically viable substitutes for expensive natural abscisic acid, enabling broad application in crop protection and yield enhancement
3Reliability
If quinabactin is used as an ABA agonist, then stomatal closure and drought tolerance are induced, but quinabactin may have limitations in stability and solubility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality modifications by making specific, targeted changes to different parts of the quinabactin molecule. Different sulfonamide derivatives are created with specific substitutions at different positions (R1, R2a, R2b, R3-R8 groups) to optimize local properties like solubility and stability while maintaining the core receptor-binding activity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a series of composite molecular structures combining the core quinabactin scaffold with various sulfonamide groups and side chains. This composite approach allows optimization of individual properties (solubility, stability, activity) through modular structural variations, resulting in compounds with balanced performance characteristics
4Productivity
If ABA agonists are developed to improve crop yield, then crop yield and growth regulation are enhanced, but the compounds must maintain stability and solubility for practical application
Solution Approach 1:
The patent systematically varies molecular parameters of the ABA agonist compounds to optimize the balance between productivity-enhancing bioactivity and environmental stability. By adjusting side chain lengths, substitutions, and functional groups, the compounds achieve both high crop yield potential and sufficient stability for field applications
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
These sulfonamide derivatives improve plant tolerance to abiotic stress, inhibit seed germination, and enhance crop yield by effectively regulating plant growth and water use efficiency, offering improved stability and solubility compared to traditional abscisic acid solutions.
Implementation Method 1
compounds of Formula (I) or a salt or N-oxide thereof, which are agonists of abscisic acid, for improving plant growth and development and plant tolerance to environmental stresses
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to novel sulfonamide derivatives, to processes and intermediates for preparing them, to plant growth regulator compositions comprising them and to methods of using them for controlling the growth of plants, improving plant tolerance to abiotic stress (including environmental and chemical stresses), inhibiting seed germination and/or safening a plant against phytotoxic effects of chemicals.