Phosphonic acid derivatives of 1,3-dioxan: Potential plant growth regulators

A series of novel (0,0-dialkyl)phosphono derivatives of 1,3-dioxan was prepared, with various alkyl substituents on different positions on the ring carbon atoms. The compounds were obtained by an Arbuzov-type rearrangement of trialkyl phosphites either with halogenoacetals or with 2-alkoxy-1,3-dioxans. The products were tested as potential plant growth regulators, using as a primary screen the effect in a tissue culture of green and white cells, followed by algal growth experiments, green-house tests on barley and maize, and small scale field trials on cucumber, tomato and maize.