This paper describes the design, synthesis, and successful employment of inhibitors of 4-(β- d -ribofuranosyl)aminobenzene-5′-phosphate (RFA-P) synthase, which catalyzes the first committed step in the biosynthesis of methanopterin, to specifically halt the growth of methane-producing microbes. RFA-P synthase catalyzes the first step in the synthesis of tetrahydromethanopterin, a key cofactor required for methane formation and for one-carbon transformations in methanogens. A number of inhibitors, which are N-substituted derivatives of p -aminobenzoic acid (pABA), have been synthesized and their inhibition constants with RFA-P synthase have been determined. Based on comparisons of the inhibition constants among various inhibitors, we propose that the pABA binding site in RFA-P synthase has a relatively large hydrophobic pocket near the amino group. These enzyme-targeted inhibitors arrest the methanogenesis and growth of pure cultures of methanogens. Supplying pABA to the culture relieves the inhibition, indicating a competitive interaction between pABA and the inhibitor at the cellular target, which is most likely RFAP synthase. The inhibitors do not adversely affect the growth of pure cultures of the bacteria (acetogens) that play a beneficial role in the rumen. Inhibitors added to dense ruminal fluid cultures (artificial rumena) halt methanogenesis; however, they do not inhibit volatile fatty acid (VFA) production and, in some cases, VFA levels are slightly elevated in the methanogenesis-inhibited cultures. We suggest that inhibiting methanopterin biosynthesis could be considered in strategies to decrease anthropogenic methane emissions, which could have an environmental benefit since methane is a potent greenhouse gas.

Allylic and homoallylic phosphonates bearing an aryl or heteroaryl substituent at the γ- or δ-position undergo rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydroboration by pinacolborane to give functionalized chiral secondary benzylic boronic esters in yields up to 86% and enantiomer ratios up to 99 : 1. Compared to minimally-functionalized terminal and 1,1-disubstituted vinyl arenes, there are relatively few reports of efficient catalytic asymmetric hydroboration (CAHB) of more highly functionalized internal alkenes. Phosphonate substrates bearing a variety of common heterocyclic ring systems, including furan, indole, pyrrole and thiophene derivatives, as well as those bearing basic nitrogen substituents (e.g., morpholine and pyrazine) are tolerated, although donor substituents positioned in close proximity of the alkene can influence the course of the reaction. Stereoisomeric (E)- and (Z)-substrates afford the same major enantiomer of the borated product. Deuterium-labelling studies reveal that rapid (Z)- to (E)-alkene isomerization accounts for the observed (E/Z)-stereoconvergence during CAHB. The synthetic utility of the chiral boronic ester products is illustrated by stereospecific C–B bond transformations including stereoretentive electrophile promoted 1,2-B-to-C migrations, stereoinvertive S_E2 reactions of boron-ate complexes with electrophiles, and stereoretentive palladium- and rhodium-catalyzed cross-coupling protocols.