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Routes to putative N-acyl-D-ala-D-ala surrogates, beginning with the conversion of 4-, 5-, and 6-membered lactones into 5-, 6-, and 7-membered cyclic hydroxamates, are reported. The key step of the synthesis is trimethylaluminium-promoted cyclization of an ω-aminooxyester. The 7-membered cyclic hydroxamate crystallizes in a chair conformation. Extension of the reaction sequence to homoserine or homoserine lactone leads to cyclocanaline and N-acylated cyclocanalines. The 4-phenylacetamido derivative of cyclocanaline crystallizes in a boat conformation. The attachment of a 2-carboxypropyl substituent to the ring nitrogen of a 4-acylaminocyclocanaline has been effected, prior to cyclization, by coupling of the acyclic aminooxyester precursor to the triflate of benzyl lactate or, after cyclization, by coupling to tert-butyl α-bromopropionate in the presence of potassium fluoride – alumina, followed by removal of the protecting group in each case. A six-membered homolog of the antibiotic lactivicin has been synthesized by the reaction of 4-phenylacetamidocyclocanaline with benzyl 2-oxoglutarate in the presence of carbodiimide, followed by hydrogenolysis. Starting with methyl 2,4-dibromo-2,4-dideoxy-L-erythronate, which is available in two steps from L-ascorbic acid, these reaction sequences have been applied to the stereospecific synthesis of a D-alanine derivative whose nitrogen atom is enclosed within a 3,4-disubstituted [1,2]oxazinan-3-one. Key words: D-ala-D-ala surrogate, cyclocanaline, homolactivicin, peptidoglycan, trimethylaluminium.

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The title compounds are amino acids whose nitrogen atom is enclosed in a six-membered cyclic hydroxamate bearing a C5-hydroxyl group. They belong to a proposed new family of antibacterial agents targeted to the penicillin receptor. The glycine and alanine members of the family have been synthesized, as racemates, in seven steps from the four-carbon synthon diketene and the tert-butyl esters of N-hydroxyglycine and N-hydroxyalanine. Numerous alternatives to diketene have also been examined, but these lead mainly to five-membered cyclic hydroxamates. The theoretical considerations that have led to this synthetic programme are discussed in some detail. They include analysis of the structures of natural and unnatural penicillin surrogates, analysis of the penicillin pharmacophore, and a treatment of the chemical reaction with which penicillin blocks bacterial cell wall synthesis. The glycine derivative exhibits marginal but real activity vs. Micrococcus luteus. The alanine derivative, which more closely resembles D-ala-D-ala, is fifty times more active. Two five-membered structural isomers of the glycine derivative are inactive. Key words: cyclocanaline, cycloserine, lactivicin, oxamazins, peptidoglycan, penicillin-binding proteins.