Inhibitors of the bacterial cell wall biosynthesis enzyme MurC

A series of phosphinate transition-state analogues of the -alanine adding enzyme (MurC) of bacterial peptidoglycan biosynthesis was prepared and tested as inhibitors of the Escherichia coli enzyme. Compound 4 was identified as a potent inhibitor of MurC from Escherichia coli with an IC50 of 49 nM.