4965. Indolebutyric Acid

Nomenclature

CAS number: 133-32-4
1H-Indole-3-butanoic acid; indole-3-butyric acid; 4-(3-indolyl)butyric acid; Seradix (Rhone-Poulenc).
C12H13NO2; mol wt 203.24.
C 70.92%, H 6.45%, N 6.89%, O 15.74%.

Description and references

Prepn: Jackson, Manske, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 52, 5029 (1930); by heating indole, γ-butyrolactone, and sodium hydroxide, followed by acidification of the product: Fritz, US 3051723 (1962 to Union Carbide); by decarboxylation of 2-carboxyindole-3-butyric acid: Bowman, Islip, Chem. Ind. (London) 1971, 154. Toxicity studies: Anderson et al., Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 34, 138 (1936); Pesonen, Acta Endocrinol. 5, 409 (1950). Hypoglycemic effect in rats: Mirsky et al., Endocrinology 59, 715 (1956).

Chemical structure

Properties

White or slightly yellow crystals. Slight characteristic odor. mp 123-125°. Practically insol in water, chloroform. Sol in alc, ether, acetone. LD50 i.p. in mice: 100 mg/kg (Anderson).

Use

To stimulate root formation of plant clippings.