Inhibitors of biotin biosynthesis as potential herbicides: Part 2

Isosteres and analogues of 7-keto-8-aminopelargonic acid (KAPA) and 7,8-diaminopelargonic acid (DAPA), the vitamer intermediates involved in the biosynthetic pathway of biotin, possessing chain lengths of eight carbon atoms, were prepared and evaluated as potential herbicides. The most active compounds, 7-amino-octanoic acid hydrochloride and 7-allyloxy-6-oxo-octanoic acid, displayed Arabidopsis GR₅₀ (concentration of the active compound that causes a 50% growth inhibition) values of 5 and 10 mg kg^-1 respectively. The DAPA analog 6,7-diamino-octanoic acid dihydrochloride, when tested in the greenhouse against six weed species, displayed moderate activity against three species, being most active against foxtail millet.