Two light-sensitive analogs of 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, namely 4-azido-2-chlorophenoxyacetic acid and 3-azido-5-chlorophenoxyacetic acid, have been synthesized for use as auxin photoaffinity labels. The preparation and biological activity of the compounds are described. Both contain the photolabile azido group; the 2,4-substituted compound shows auxin activity and the 3,5-substituted compound does not. These photoaffinity analogs of 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid may be useful in the identification of the auxin receptor molecules in plant cells and eventually of the receptor sites within these molecules.Among plant growth regulators, the auxins are generally distinguished by their promotion of cell elongation (25,29