Synthesis of bridged catechol-homocysteine derivatives as potential inhibitors of catechol O-methyltransferase.

Catechol derivatives, covalently joined to homocysteine by sulfide or sulfonium linkages, were synthesized as potential catechol O-methyltransferase multisubstrate inhibitors which might bridge the enzymatic binding sites for the catechol substrate and the amino acid portion of the methyl donor S-adenosylmethionine. These compounds were found to be less effective inhibitors than the product inhibitor S-adenosylhomocysteine.