Facile alkylation of methionine by benzyl bromide and demonstration of fumarase inactivation accompanied by alkylation of a methionine residue.

Benzyl bromide is a selective alkylator of sulfur nucleophiles including methionine and cysteine. Only the mercaptide ion is a more efficient nucleophile than is the sulfur ether of methionine. Alkylation rates relative to methionine are 200: less than or equal to 0.