HANUŠ, Jan, NISLER, Jaroslav, STRNAD, Miroslav. A Novel Method for Synthesis of cis-Zeatin and Its Valuable Precursor (Z)-4-Chloro-2-methyl-but-2-en-1-ol. Organic Preparations and Procedures International. 2019, 51(4), 368-374. ISSN 0030-4948. E-ISSN 1945-5453

Cytokinins are one of the major groups of plant hormones. The vast majority of naturally\noccurring cytokinins are derivatives of zeatin and isopentenyladenine. Zeatin, 2-\nmethyl-4-(7H-purin-6-ylamino)but-2-en-1-ol, occurs as two stereoisomers, E and Z,\nreferring to the position of the terminal hydroxyl group on the isoprenoid side chain.\nBoth isomers play key roles in plant development and occur ubiquitously in the plant\nkingdom. However, whereas the chemistry of (E)-zeatin is well-developed and the\ncompound is synthetically available by several methods, the synthesis of pure (Z)-\nzeatin is problematic and in all cases generates low yield.