Polarographic and Biologic Activities of N-Substituted Maleimides. ∗

Summary

The half-suppression values and half-wave potentials for 5 N-substituted maleimides were measured with the polarograph and compared with their inhibitory effects on growth of plant tissue induced by indoleacetic acid. The chemical group at the N-atom of the maleimide structure determines the ease of reduction of the carbon-carbon double bond. This chemical reactivity appears to be the basis for the biologic activity of maleimides with some possibility of adsorbability or surface activity playing a minor role.