Syntheses of mycobactin analogs as potent and selective inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Three analogs of mycobactin T, the siderophore secreted by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) were synthesized and screened for their antibiotic activity against Mtb H(37)Rv and a broad panel of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The synthetic mycobactins were potent (MIC(90) 0.02-0.88 μM in 7H12 media) and selective Mtb inhibitors, with no inhibitory activity observed against any other of the microorganisms tested. The maleimide-containing analog 40 represents a versatile platform for the development of mycobactin-drug conjugates, as well as other applications.