Left SU(2) subgroup of SO(4) ($SU(2{)}_L\subset SO(4)$)

Identify ${\mathbb{R}}^4$ with the quaternions. Unit quaternions act by left multiplication, embedding the SU(2) group in $SO(4)$. Under this subgroup, the complexified vector representation branches as $4\to 22$, and the Adjoint representation as $6\to 3\oplus 31$. Right multiplication supplies the commuting second factor.

The long roots of a root system $\pm (1,1)$ and $\pm (1,-1)$ give the commuting $SU(2)$ factors of the standard $SO(4)$ subgroup. Choosing $(1,1)$ for the left factor pairs a weight $(x,y)$ with its coroot as $x+y$. The five-dimensional vector then gives two doublets and a singlet, whereas a short-axis root would give a triplet and two singlets.