N-Nitroso-β-lactams as β-lactamase inhibitor

AbstractN-Nitroso-β-phenyl-β-lactam has been found to be a specific inhibitor of β-lactamase. N-Nitroso-α-phenyl-β-lactam, by contrast, was virtually ineffective although a transient inhibition of short duration was observed. The acyl enzyme derived from the β-phenyl isomer is presumably involved in a cross-linking reaction, whereas that from the α-phenyl isomer was quenched by spontaneous hydrolysis without formation of a covalent bond. No inhibitory effect of the β-phenyl isomer on chymotrypsin has been observed