FIQ and FIQ2, New Q-site inhibitors for photosynthetic electron transport: synthesis and the relationship between stereochemistry and biological activity

Abstract

The synthetic hexahydrofuroisoquinoline 4 has, as a mixture of stereoisomers, been identified as a potent and specific inhibitor of electron transport in photosynthesis. We now report that the biological activity of 4 is, surprisingly, independent of configuration at C-1″ and C-2. A new inhibitor 26 has been synthesised, with similar inhibitory activity; the S-enantiomer displays ca. twice the activity of the R-form.