Metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) catalyze the hydrolysis of β-lactams including penicillins, cephalosporins and carbapenems. Starting from benzohydroxamic acid (1) structure-activity studies led to the identification of selective inhibitors of the FEZ-1 MBL, eg, 2, 5-substituted benzophenone hydroxamic acid 17 has a Ki of 6.1±0.7 μM against the FEZ-1 MBL but does not significantly inhibit the IMP-1, BcII, CphA or L1 MBLs.
[Guenthner, Andrew J.; Davis, Matthew C.; Ford, Michael D.; Reams, Josiah T.; Groshens, Thomas J.; Baldwin, Lawrence C.; Lubin, Lisa M.; Mabry, Joseph M. Macromolecules, 2012 , vol. 45, # 24 p. 9707 - 9718]