6-Hydroxy-5-nitrobenzo[]oxazol-2(3)-one-A degradable derivative of natural 6-Hydroxybenzoxazolin-2(3)-one produced by .

is a bacterium associated with other microorganisms on Medik. roots. It converts 6-hydroxybenzoxazolin-2(3)-one (BOA-6-OH), a hydroxylated derivative of the allelochemical benzoxazolin-2(3)-one, into 6-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzo[]oxazol-2(3)-one. The compound was identified by NMR and mass spectrometric methods. synthesis succeeded with protein, with isolated proteins from the root surface or with horseradish peroxidase in the presence of nitrite and HO. Nitro-BOA-6-OH is completely degraded further by and root surface proteins. Under laboratory conditions, 6-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzo[]oxazol-2(3)-one inhibits seedling growth whereas is much less affected. Although biodegradable, an agricultural use of 6-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzo[]oxazol-2(3)-one is undesirable because of the high toxicity of nitro aromatic compounds to mammals.