Synthesis and evaluation of 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate analogues as chelation-based inhibitors of methylerythritol phosphate synthase

A series of 1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate (DXP) analogues were synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of E. coli methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) synthase. In analogues 1−4, the methyl group in DXP was replaced by hydroxyl, hydroxylamino, methoxy, and amino moieties, respectively. In analogues 5 and 6, the acetyl moiety in DXP was replaced by hydroxymethyl and aminomethyl groups. These compounds were designed to coordinate to the active site divalent metal in MEP synthase. The carboxylate (1), methyl ester (3), amide (4), and alcohol (5) analogues were inhibitors with IC50's ranging from 0.25 to 1.0 mM. The hydroxamic acid (2) and amino (6) analogues did not inhibit the enzyme.