Synthesis and evaluation of novel chromogenic aminopeptidase substrates for microorganism detection and identification

The amides 8a–e and 10a–c were prepared as chromogenic aminopeptidase substrates. A range of microorganisms were grown in the presence of these compounds and coloured colonies were produced in several cases after addition of acetic acid—thus giving potential methods for the detection of aminopeptidase activity and for microorganism identification.