Synthesis of putative chain terminators of mycobacterial arabinan biosynthesis

The synthesis of a variety of arabinose derivatives that have been modified at C-5 was achieved from d-arabinose. The 5-fluoro and 5-methoxy compounds were converted into the corresponding farnesyl phosphodiesters as putative chain terminators of mycobacterial arabinan biosynthesis. Biological testing of these materials revealed no effective anti-mycobacterial activity.