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5-Fluoromethylornithine (5-FMOrn) is the first specific irreversible inhibitor of L-ornithine:2-oxoacid aminotransferase (OAT) found. Single doses (greater than 10 mg/kg) of this compound inactivate OAT to a residual OAT-like activity. This activity (10-20% of total activity) is resistant to further inactivation by higher or repeated doses of 5-FMOrn, or incubation with the inactivator in vitro. Ornithine concentrations are greatly enhanced in various tissues, and urinary ornithine is dramatically increased, but no other amino acid is affected after acute treatment with 5-FMOrn. Repeated administration decreases carnosine and homocarnosine concentrations in brain. Toxic effects were not observed. The new inactivator is considered as a tool in the establishment of functions of OAT under physiological and pathological conditions.

(E)-Dehydro analogues of alpha-(fluoromethyl)putrescine and -ornithine derivatives were synthesized and evaluated in vitro as irreversible inhibitors of a preparation of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC, EC 4.1.1.17) obtained from rat liver. The key step in the synthesis of (E)-alpha-(fluoromethyl)dehydroornithine (17) and -putrescine (14) was the addition of propenylmagnesium bromide to fluoroacetonitrile. The resulting unstable conjugated imine salt was reduced regioselectively in situ with NaBH4 or was quenched with a solution of NaCN to give the corresponding unsaturated alpha-(fluoromethyl) amine and alpha-amino nitrile, respectively. These were transformed into 17 and 14 via a four-step sequence involving (a) phthaloyation of the amine function; (b) allylic bromination of the methyl group; (c) Gabriel reaction; and (d) hydrolytic cleavage of the protective groups. (E)-alpha-(Difluoromethyl)dehydroornithine (10) and -putrescine (7) were prepared from ethyl tert-butyl 2-(difluoromethyl)-2-(2-propenyl)malonate and di-tert-butyl 2-(difluoromethyl)-2-(2-propenyl)malonate, respectively, via a sequence similar to that reported previously for the synthesis of the saturated analogues. Compounds 17, 14, 10, and 7 proved to be much more potent enzyme-activated irreversible inhibitors of ODC than the corresponding saturated analogues. The increase in potency is particularly marked in the alpha-fluoromethyl series. The apparent dissociation constants (KI) and the times of half-inactivation of enzyme (tau 50) at infinite concentration of inhibitors are 2.7 microM and 2.6 min for 17 and 42 microM and 0.2 min for 14. The KI and tau 50 of the corresponding saturated analogues are 75 microM and 1.6 min for the ornithine derivative and 56 microM and 4.4 min for the putrescine derivative.

A series of mono‐and geminal difluorinated analogues of spermidine (4‐azaoctane‐1, 8‐diamine) have been tested as potential substrates of partially purified rat hepatoma (HTC) cell or pure bovine spleen spermine synthase (EC 2.5.1.22). Substitution of the hydrogen atoms of the methylene group at position 7 by one or two fluorine atoms decreases 8‐fold and 160‐fold the apparent Km values for the HTC cell enzyme respectively. Similarly, the Km values of 7‐monofluoro and 7, 7‐difluorospermidine for the pure bovine enzyme are reduced 8‐fold and 100‐fold respectively, incomparison with spermidine. Di‐, but not monofluoro substitution, in the 6‐position causes a 5‐fold reduction in the affinity for the HTC cell enzyme. Gem‐fluorine substitution in the 2‐position a abolishes substrate capability. In addition to their high affinity for spermine synthase, 7‐monoflurospermidine and 7, 7‐difluorospermidine cause substrate inhibition. This phenomenom, which is more pronounced in the case of the difluorinated analogues is pH‐dependent. These enzymatic findings are discussed with regard to the protonation sites of the spermidine analogues, determined by potentiometric titration, which vary as a function of the number and position of the fluorine substituents relative to the basic amino groups.

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