What are the applications of Phenoxyacetic acid and its derivatives?

Phenoxyacetic acid and its derivatives are primarily used as plant growth regulators, promoting plant germination, fruit setting, yield increase, and protein content enhancement. Additionally, they can be used as agricultural fungicides, herbicides, and preservatives. These compounds have a wide range of potential applications.

1. Applications of Phenoxyacetic acid

1. Synthesis of oral penicillin V potassium

Currently, Phenoxyacetic acid is mainly used in China for the production of penicillin V. By converting Phenoxyacetic acid into acyl chloride and then condensing it with the amino group at the 6th position of 6-APA, penicillin V can be obtained. Penicillin V is a derivative of penicillin G, characterized by good acidity and can be taken orally, solving the problems of skin testing and pain during penicillin injection, and its clinical use is becoming increasingly widespread.

2. Herbicide

Low concentrations of Phenoxyacetic acid salts can be used as plant growth regulators. Additionally, Phenoxyacetic acid amine salts and Phenoxyacetic acid are hormone-type broad-spectrum herbicides.

3. Intermediate for dye and pharmaceutical synthesis

Phenoxyacetic acid derivatives include lipid-lowering drugs such as dimethyl toluate, fenofibrate, phenylthioacetate, simvastatin, and chlorobutanol.

2. Applications of Phenoxyacetic acid derivatives

Para-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (PCPA), also known as PCPA, is a colorless, odorless, granular crystal ClOCH2COOH with a molecular weight of 200.5. It is a systemic, broad-spectrum, efficient, and multifunctional plant growth regulator. It is also a selective herbicide and an intermediate for the central nervous system stimulant methyl chlorophenoxyacetate.

1. Growth regulation

A) After being absorbed by plants, it can inhibit the formation of abscisic acid in plants, making it difficult for fruit stalks to form abscission layers, effectively preventing flower and fruit drop, and accelerating the development of young fruits.

B) It can promote seed germination, early tillering, and increase chlorophyll content. It can accelerate plant germination and induce the production of seedless tomatoes and seedless grapes. It can also increase the size of crops, especially for crops with many embryos, such as tomatoes, eggplants, and figs. The effects are more significant. It has also been found that by applying this product and using appropriate methods to vary the concentration, timing, and site of application, it can promote or inhibit the physiological processes of crops, thereby achieving the desired goals.

2. 4-Iodo Phenoxyacetic acid

4-Iodo Phenoxyacetic acid, commonly known as Zengchanling, is a plant growth regulator. Its effect is similar to that of para-chlorophenoxyacetic acid. Spraying cotton plants with 10mg/L of 4-Iodo Phenoxyacetic acid can double the yield of cotton seeds compared to untreated plants. Spraying radishes and other vegetables with 30-60mg/L of 4-Iodo Phenoxyacetic acid can increase the yield by 26%-55%.

3. Applications of potassium para-chlorophenoxyacetate

Potassium para-chlorophenoxyacetate is a new type of plant growth regulator mainly used in crops. It can promote biosynthesis and translocation in plants, prevent flower and fruit drop, increase fruit setting rate, accelerate fruit enlargement, and promote early maturity. It can also improve plant quality by promoting rooting, germination, early maturity, preventing flower and fruit drop, and forming seedless fruits. It can also inhibit germination, branch pruning, leaf thinning, and weed elimination. It is widely valued due to the following advantages: ①It has very low toxicity and is harmless to humans, animals, and fish, without the traditional drug's toxicity. ②It is used at a very low concentration, but its physiological effects are very significant.