Dipeptidyl-α,β-epoxyesters as potent irreversible inhibitors of the cysteine proteases cruzain and rhodesain

摘要

The inhibition of cysteine proteases cruzain and rhodesain has emerged as an important strategy for the treatment of Chagas' disease (in America) and sleeping sickness (in Africa). In this communication we will report the synthesis and biological activity of a new class of cysteine protease inhibitors, represented by isomeric structures 1 and 2: