Synthesis and evaluation of two new inhibitors of EPSP synthase

Abstract The enzyme EPSP synthase, EPSPS, (EC 2.5.1.19) catalyzes an unusual transfer reaction of the enolpyruvoyl moiety from phosphoenol pyruvate ( 2 , PEP) regiospecifically to the 5-OH of shikimate 3-phosphate ( 1 , S3P) to form 5-enol-pyruvoylshikimate 3-phosphate ( 3 , EPSP). Two new inhibitors, ( 4 , and 5 ) were prepared to probe the S3P binding site.