Bissulfonamide derivatives of formula (I) are capable of inhibiting: a) the biosynthesis of aromatic amino acids via the shikimate pathway and b) the catabolism of quinic acid, wherein: Ar is an aryl or heteroaryl group; R1 and R2 are the same or different and each represent hydrogen or alkyl or R1 and R2 together form a C1-C3 alkylene group, -CO- or -CS-; and R3 and R4 are the same or different and each represent -alkyl-aryl, -alkyl-heteroaryl, -alkenyl-aryl, -alkenyl-heteroaryl, -alkynyl-aryl-alkynyl-heterorayl, aryl or heteroaryl.
Bell et al., Journal of the Chemical Society, 1956, p. 2335,2339