Group 4 metal compounds incorporating the amide ligand, [N(SiMe2{C6H4-2-OMe})2](-).

The anisole-substituted silyl-amide anion, [N(SiMe2{C6H4-2-OMe})2](-) (L), has been used as a pincer-type ligand in coordination chemistry. X-ray diffraction data for the lithium salt shows a trimetallic structure consisting of two equivalents of Li(L) that sequester a molecule of LiCl. The potassium salt K(L) is dimeric in the solid-state with bridging amide ligands. Each structure shows chelation of both O-donor groups to the electropositive metal. In contrast, the titanium compound Ti(L)Cl3 is four-coordinate with a monodentate amide. The zirconium compound Zr(L)2Cl2 is monometallic with a six-coordinate metal and two N,O-bidentate amides.

Selective deactivation of gibberellins below the shoot apex is critical to flowering but not to stem elongation of Lolium.

Gibberellins (GAs) cause dramatic increases in plant height and a genetic block in the synthesis of GA(1) explains the dwarfing of Mendel's pea. For flowering, it is GA(5) which is important in the long-day (LD) responsive grass, Lolium. As we show here, GA(1) and GA(4) are restricted in their effectiveness for flowering because they are deactivated by C-2 hydroxylation below the shoot apex. In contrast, GA(5) is effective because of its structural protection at C-2. Excised vegetative shoot tips rapidly degrade [14C]GA(1), [14C]GA(4), and [14C]GA(20) (>80% in 6 h), but not [14C]GA(5). Coincidentally, genes encoding two 2beta-oxidases and a putative 16-17-epoxidase were most expressed just below the shoot apex (<3 mm). Further down the immature stem (>4 mm), expression of these GA deactivation genes is reduced, so allowing GA(1) and GA(4) to promote sub-apical stem elongation. Subsequently, GA degradation declines in florally induced shoot tips and these GAs can become active for floral development. Structural changes which stabilize GA(4) confirm the link between florigenicity and restricted GA 2beta-hydroxylation (e.g. 2alpha-hydroxylation and C-2 di-methylation). Additionally, a 2-oxidase inhibitor (Trinexapac Ethyl) enhanced the activity of applied GA(4), as did limiting C-16,17 epoxidation in 16,17-dihydro GAs or after C-13 hydroxylation. Overall, deactivation of GA(1) and GA(4) just below the shoot apex effectively restricts their florigenicity in Lolium and, conversely, with GA(5), C-2 and C-13 protection against deactivation allows its high florigenicity. Speculatively, such differences in GA access to the shoot apex of grasses may be important for separating floral induction from inflorescence emergence and thus could influence their survival under conditions of herbivore predation.

Deactivation pathways of ethylene polymerization catalysts derived from titanium and zirconium 1,3-bis(furyl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisilazide complexes.

The stoichiometric reaction between the previously described lithium amide salts, LiN(SiMe2R)2 [Li{i}, R = furyl, Li{ii}, R = 2-methylfuryl] and titanium(iv)chloride at low temperature afforded the mono-amide compounds Ti{i}Cl3 (1a) and Ti{ii}Cl3 (1b). The analogous zirconium derivatives Zr{i}Cl3 (3a) and Zr{ii}Cl3 (3b) were accessed via the reaction of excess trimethylsilylchloride with the mixed tetra-amide species, Zr{i}(NMe2)3 (2a) and Zr{ii}(NMe2)3 (2b). The bis-amide complexes Ti{ii}2Cl2 (4b), Zr{i}2Cl2 (5a) and Zr{ii}2Cl2 (5b) were synthesized in a straightforward salt metathesis reaction employing two equivalents of Li{i} or Li{ii} with the metal salts, MCl4(THF)2. The reactivity of the halide compounds 1 and 3-5 with a variety of alkylating agents was studied, with ligand transfer from the transition-element to the main group metal-alkyl reagent being the predominant reaction pathway. The reaction of 4b with MeLi was, however, partially successful affording the titanium(III) complex, Ti{ii}2X (X = Cl/Me, 6b'); this compound was subsequently made as the pure chloride from the reaction of two equivalents of Li{iii} with TiCl3(THF)3. The targeted dialkyl species, Ti{ii}Me2 (7b), was successfully isolated from the reaction between the dichloride 4b and dimethylmagnesium. The molecular structures of 1a, 1b, [3a]2 [3b]2, 4b, 5b and 6b have been solved using single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques, indicating varying nuclearity of the complexes and hapticities for the amide ligands in the solid-state. The catalytic activity of selected complexes in the polymerization of ethylene is reported.

Regulation of flowering in the long-day grass Lolium temulentum by gibberellins and the FLOWERING LOCUS T gene.

Seasonal control of flowering often involves leaf sensing of daylength coupled to time measurement and generation and transport of florigenic signals to the shoot apex. We show that transmitted signals in the grass Lolium temulentum may include gibberellins (GAs) and the FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) gene. Within 2 h of starting a florally inductive long day (LD), expression of a 20-oxidase GA biosynthetic gene increases in the leaf; its product, GA(20), then increases 5.7-fold versus short day; its substrate, GA(19), decreases equivalently; and a bioactive product, GA(5), increases 4-fold. A link between flowering, LD, GAs, and GA biosynthesis is shown in three ways: (1) applied GA(19) became florigenic on exposure to LD; (2) expression of LtGA20ox1, an important GA biosynthetic gene, increased in a florally effective LD involving incandescent lamps, but not with noninductive fluorescent lamps; and (3) paclobutrazol, an inhibitor of an early step of GA biosynthesis, blocked flowering, but only if applied before the LD. Expression studies of a 2-oxidase catabolic gene showed no changes favoring a GA increase. Thus, the early LD increase in leaf GA(5) biosynthesis, coupled with subsequent doubling in GA(5) content at the shoot apex, provides a substantial trail of evidence for GA(5) as a LD florigen. LD signaling may also involve transport of FT mRNA or protein because expression of LtFT and LtCONSTANS increased rapidly, substantially (>80-fold for FT), and independently of GA. However, because a LD from fluorescent lamps induced LtFT expression but not flowering, the nature of the light response of FT requires clarification.

Gibberellins and flowering of grasses and cereals: prizing open the lid of the "florigen" black box.

Comprehensive studies in grasses show that gibberellins (GAs) play a role as a florigen. For Lolium temulentum, which flowers in response to a single long day (LD), GAs are a transmitted signal, their content increasing in the leaf early in the LD and then, hours later, at the shoot apex. There is a continuous trail of evidence of hormonal action of these GAs for L. temulentum and support for a similar role in the flowering of other LD-responsive temperate grasses and cereals. A characteristic of the initial flowering responses of grasses and cereals is their limited stem elongation. Interestingly, it is GAs with low effectiveness for stem elongation, GA5 and GA6, that reach the shoot apex and, structurally, are probably not degraded by 2-oxidase enzymes. By contrast, GA1 and GA4 cause stem elongation, may be inactive for floral evocation, and do not reach the vegetative shoot apex apparently because of susceptibility to degradation. However, GA4 can be florally active if protected against 2-oxidases either structurally or by using a 2-oxidase inhibitor. Later in inflorescence development, GA1 and GA4 can be detected at the shoot apex and are florally active if applied. The 2-oxidase restricting accessibility to the apex has probably declined at this time so there is a second florigenic, LD-regulated GA action. A growing body of molecular evidence supporting these actions of GA may provide a future basis for manipulating flowering of grasses and cereals.

Synthesis of gibberellin GA6 and its role in flowering of Lolium temulentum.

The induction of flowering by one long day (LD) in the grass Lolium temulentum is most closely mimicked by application of the gibberellins (GAs) GA(5) or GA(6), both of which occur naturally. These gibberellins promote floral development but have little effect on stem elongation. Endogenous GA(5) and GA(6) contents in the shoot apex double on the day after the LD and, for GA(5) (and we presume for GA(6) as well) reach a concentration known to be inductive for the excised shoot apex in vitro. They are, therefore, strong candidates as LD floral stimuli in this grass. The synthesis of GA(6) and an examination of its florigenic properties in L. temulentum are described.

Effects of 17-alkyl-16,17-dihydrogibberellin A(5) derivatives on growth and flowering in Lolium temulentum.

Several gibberellins in which the 16-methyl group of the 16-epimers of dihydro-GA(5) had been replaced by ethyl, n-propyl and n-butyl were prepared and tested at doses of 1, 5 or 25&mgr;g per plant for their effects on stem growth and flowering of the grass Lolium temulentum. The ethyl and n-propyl derivatives were most inhibitory of elongation, the exo-isomers being more active than the endo-forms. While both isomers of dihydro-GA(5) promoted flowering, among the 17-alkyl analogues, only the exo-ethyl derivative showed significant activity.