Enzymatic Synthesis of Biologically Active -Phosphinic Analogue of α-Ketoglutarate.

Amino acid analogues with a phosphorus-containing moiety replacing the carboxylic group are promising sources of biologically active compounds. The -phosphinic group, with hydrogen-phosphorus-carbon (H-P-C) bonds and a flattened tetrahedral configuration, is a bioisostere of the carboxylic group. Consequently, amino--phosphinic acids undergo substrate-like enzymatic transformations, leading to new biologically active metabolites.