3-Amino-2-hydroxy-propionaldehydes [H2NCH (R) CHOHCHO with R= H, i-Bu, CH2Ph] were designed as metalloaminopeptidase inhibitors based on the metal active site chelation concept. These compounds were found to be micromolar inhibitors of aminopeptidase-M (AP-M, EC 3.4. 11.2) with potencies similar to bestatin (Ki= 3.5 μM). Notably, compound 5a (R= H) is a selective inhibitor of AP-M (Ki= 7 μM) with respect to cytosolic leucine ...