Protease inhibitors. Part 7. Inhibition of Clostridium histolyticum collagenase with sulfonylated derivatives of L-valine hydroxamate.

Sulfonylated L-valine hydroxamate derivatives were obtained by reaction of alkyl/arylsulfonyl halides with the title amino acid, followed by treatment with benzyl chloride, and conversion of the COOH moiety to the CONHOH group. Other derivatives were obtained by reaction of N-benzyl-L-valine with arylisocyanates, arylsulfonylisocyanates or benzoylisothiocyanate, followed by the similar conversion of the COOH into the CONHOH moiety, with hydroxylamine in the presence of carbodiimides. The obtained compounds were assayed as inhibitors of the Clostridium histolyticum collagenase, ChC (EC 3.4.24.3), a zinc enzyme which degrades triple helical collagen. The hydroxamate derivatives were generally 100-500 times more active than the corresponding carboxylates. In the series of synthesized derivatives, substitution patterns leading to best ChC inhibitors were those involving perfluoroalkylsulfonyl- and substituted-arylsulfonyl moieties, such as pentafluorophenylsulfonyl; 3- and 4-protected-aminophenylsulfonyl-; 3- and 4-carboxyphenylsulfonyl-; 3-trifluoromethylphenylsulfonyl; or 1- and 2-naphthyl among others. Similarly to the matrix metalloproteinase hydroxamate inhibitors, ChC inhibitors of the type reported here must incorporate hydrophobic moieties at the P(2') and P(3') subsites, in order to achieve tight binding to the enzyme. Such compounds might lead to drugs useful in the treatment corneal bacterial keratitis.