Control of plant stress tolerance, water use efficiency and gene expression using novel ABA receptor synthetic agonists

An agricultural formulation comprising a carrier and a compound, wherein the compound is selected from the following formulas:

• wherein
• R4 is a heteroaryl, optionally substituted with 1-3 R1a groups;
• wherein the heteroryl is selected from a group consisting of imidazole, oxadiazole, thiophene, and pyrimidine;
• R5 is selected from the group consisting of C1-6 alkyl and aryl, wherein the aryl is optionally substituted with 1-3 R1agroups;
• each of R6 and R7 are independently selected from the group consisting of aryl and heteroaryl, each optionally substituted with 1-3 R1agroups;
• R8 is selected from the group consisting of cycloalkyl and aryl, each optionally substituted with 1-3 R1agroups;
• R9 is H or is optionally combined with a R1a group of R8 and the atoms to which each is attached to form a heterocycloalkyl;
• X is absent or is selected from the group consisting of —O—and —N(R′)—;
• Y is absent or is selected from the group consisting of —C(O)—and —C(R′,R″)—;
• Z is absent or is selected from the group consisting of —N═and —C(S)—N(R′)—, such that one of Y and Z is absent;
• each R1a is independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, C1-6 alkyl, C1-6 haloalkyl, C2-6 alkenyl, C2-6 alkynyl, C1-6 alkoxy, C1-6 haloalkoxy, C1-6 hydroxyalkyl, —NR′R″, —SR′, —N(R′)C(O)R″, —N(R′)C(O)OR″, —N(R′)C(O)NR′R″, —OP(O)(OR′)2, —S(O)2OR′, —S(O)2NR′R″, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl and heteroaryl, wherein the aryl group is optionally substituted with —NO2 and the heteroaryl group is optionally substituted with C1-6 alkyl;
• alternatively, adjacent R1a groups can combine to form a member selected from the group consisting of cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl and heteroaryl, wherein the aryl group is optionally substituted with —OH;
• and
• R′ and R″ are each independently selected from the group consisting of H and C1-6 alkyl.