Disclosed herein are compounds and methods for promoting plant growth. Formulations containing one or more disclosed compounds or salts thereof, and one or more excipients are disclosed. The formulation adjuvant can be a solid carrier, a liquid carrier, or a surface-active agent. Methods for promoting plant growth typically includes applying one or more formulations to a plant, a plant part, or a growing site of plant. The plant can be a cereal, grain, or vegetable plant. The plant part can be seed or seedling of a plant. The growing site of plant can be soil before, during, or after the plant is planted or a growing medium. In some embodiments, the one or more compounds or salts thereof in the one or more formulations are in an effective amount to decrease biosynthesis and release of strigolactone plant hormones from the plant.

The present invention provides a method of producing (−)-rotundone from α-guaiene. The method includes the steps of: (1) allowing a cytochrome P450 protein to act on α-guaiene, which cytochrome P450 belongs to the CYP152 family and is capable of oxidizing the methylene group at position 3 of α-guaiene to the carbonyl group; and/or (2) allowing a cytochrome P450 protein to act on α-guaiene in the presence of an electron transfer protein capable of transferring electrons to the cytochrome P450 protein, which cytochrome P450 belongs to the CYP152, CYP106, or CYP107 family and is capable of oxidizing the methylene group at position 3 of α-guaiene to the carbonyl group.

The present invention provides a method of producing (−)-rotundone from α-guaiene. The method includes the steps of: (1) allowing a cytochrome P450 protein to act on α-guaiene, which cytochrome P450 belongs to the CYP152 family and is capable of oxidizing the methylene group at position 3 of α-guaiene to the carbonyl group; and/or (2) allowing a cytochrome P450 protein to act on α-guaiene in the presence of an electron transfer protein capable of transferring electrons to the cytochrome P450 protein, which cytochrome P450 belongs to the CYP152, CYP106, or CYP107 family and is capable of oxidizing the methylene group at position 3 of α-guaiene to the carbonyl group.

A method for producing an organometallic nucleophile includes reacting an organohalide and a metal or metal compound with each other by a mechanochemical process in the presence of an ether compound in an amount of 0.5 to 10.0 equivalents relative to 1 equivalent of the organohalide. By utilizing the method, a method for producing an organometallic nucleophile can be performed without using a large-scale apparatus, a reaction method for reactions between an organometallic nucleophile and various organic electrophiles can be performed by an efficient and simplified means, and a simplified method for producing an organometallic nucleophile can be performed with high reactivity.

A method for producing an organometallic nucleophile includes reacting an organohalide and a metal or metal compound with each other by a mechanochemical process in the presence of an ether compound in an amount of 0.5 to 10.0 equivalents relative to 1 equivalent of the organohalide. By utilizing the method, a method for producing an organometallic nucleophile can be performed without using a large-scale apparatus, a reaction method for reactions between an organometallic nucleophile and various organic electrophiles can be performed by an efficient and simplified means, and a simplified method for producing an organometallic nucleophile can be performed with high reactivity.

A fluorene-based photoinitiator, a preparation method thereof, a photocurable composition having the same, and use thereof in the field of photocuring are disclosed. In some embodiments, the fluorene-based photoinitiator has a structure represented by Formula I, wherein X is -A-(X).sub.n, wherein A is selected from a heteroatom which is selected from O, N, or S, X is selected from a C.sub.1-C.sub.20 linear alkyl group, a C.sub.1-C.sub.20 branched alkyl group, a C.sub.3-C.sub.8 cycloalkyl group, a C.sub.1-C.sub.10 alkyl group substituted with a C.sub.3-C.sub.8 cycloalkyl group or one or more of carbon atoms in X are substituted with a heteroatom, and n is 1 or 2; and R.sub.4 is a hydroxy group or a N-morpholinyl group. In some embodiments, the fluorene-based photoinitiator comprises a structure represented by Formula II.

A fluorene-based photoinitiator, a preparation method thereof, a photocurable composition having the same, and use thereof in the field of photocuring are disclosed. In some embodiments, the fluorene-based photoinitiator has a structure represented by Formula I, wherein X is -A-(X).sub.n, wherein A is selected from a heteroatom which is selected from O, N, or S, X is selected from a C.sub.1-C.sub.20 linear alkyl group, a C.sub.1-C.sub.20 branched alkyl group, a C.sub.3-C.sub.8 cycloalkyl group, a C.sub.1-C.sub.10 alkyl group substituted with a C.sub.3-C.sub.8 cycloalkyl group or one or more of carbon atoms in X are substituted with a heteroatom, and n is 1 or 2; and R.sub.4 is a hydroxy group or a N-morpholinyl group. In some embodiments, the fluorene-based photoinitiator comprises a structure represented by Formula II.

The invention addresses the problem of providing a method for producing 2-acetyl-4H,9H-naphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-dione that is suited to industrial production. The invention provides a method for producing 2-acetyl-4H,9H-naphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-dione by reacting 3-bromo-3-buten-2-one and 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone in the presence of a solvent, then obtaining crystals of 2-acetyl-4H,9H-naphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-dione by adding an alcohol-based solvent and/or water to the reaction system, and treating the crystals by using a specific adsorbent in the presence of a solvent.

The invention addresses the problem of providing a method for producing 2-acetyl-4H,9H-naphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-dione that is suited to industrial production. The invention provides a method for producing 2-acetyl-4H,9H-naphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-dione by reacting 3-bromo-3-buten-2-one and 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone in the presence of a solvent, then obtaining crystals of 2-acetyl-4H,9H-naphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-dione by adding an alcohol-based solvent and/or water to the reaction system, and treating the crystals by using a specific adsorbent in the presence of a solvent.

Disclosed is a fluorination method comprising providing a fluorinating reagent and a solvent to a reaction mixture; providing a compound having the formula ArX to the reaction mixture; wherein Ar is aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl or substituted heteroaryl, and X is Cl, Br, I or NO.sub.2, providing tetramethylammonium 2,6-dimethylphenolate to the reaction mixture; and reacting under conditions sufficient to provide a species having the formula ArF.