Inspired by Nature: Isostere Concepts in Plant Hormone Chemistry

Chemical conceptssuch as isosteres and scaffold hopping have provento be powerful tools in agrochemical innovation processes. They offeropportunities to modify known molecular lead structures with the aimto improve a range of parameters, including biological efficacy andspectrum, physicochemical properties, stability, and toxicity. Whilerecent biochemical insights into plant-specific receptors and signalingpathways trigger the discovery of the first lead structures, the disclosureof such a new chemical structure sparks a broad range of synthesisactivities giving rise to diverse chemical innovation and often aconsiderable boost in biological activity. Herein, recent examplesof isostere concepts in plant-hormone chemistry will be discussed,outlining how synthetic creativity can broaden the scope of naturalproduct chemistry and giving rise to new opportunities in researchfields such as abiotic stress tolerance and growth promotion.