Modifications around the hydroxamic acid chelating group of fosmidomycin, an inhibitor of the metalloenzyme 1-deoxyxylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase (DXR).

Fosmidomycin derivatives in which the hydroxamic acid group has been replaced by several bidentate chelators as potential hydroxamic alternatives were prepared and tested against the DXR from Escherichia coli. These results illustrate the predominant role of the hydroxamate functional group as the most effective metal binding group in DXR inhibitors.