Synthesis of an alpha-aminophosphonate nucleoside as an inhibitor of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase.

A phosphonic acid analogue of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine was prepared by a novel method and the epimeric mixture separated. Preliminary studies indicate that each epimer causes time-dependent inactivation of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase, however each presented distinct kinetic characteristics.