The present invention relates to compounds which can be used to control plant development. Indeed, the present invention discloses a new class of pyrabactin analogues which have a physiological effect on—for example—seed germination, and/or stomatal closure, and/or have developmental effects on root and shoot development and organogenesis. Hence, the latter compounds can be used to control plant development such as—for example—increasing the tolerance of plants to drought stress or to control physiological phenomena such as pre-harvest sprouting, tolerance to pathogens etc.