Rational design and regioselective synthesis of conformationally restricted furan-derived ligands as potential anti-malarial agents

Substituted 3-furanomethyl phosphate esters and their corresponding phosphoric acids have been prepared as conformationally restricted analogues of DOXP, the natural substrate for Plasmodium falciparum 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase (PfDXR), and fosmidomycin, an established inhibitor. Saturation Transfer Difference (STD) NMR analysis and in silico docking data suggest the potential of such compounds as PfDXR inhibitors. [GRAPHICS] .