Inhibition of serine proteases: activity of 1,3-diazetidine-2,4-diones

The present work demonstrates that the 1,3-diazetidine-2,4-dione nucleus is effective as a scaffold of serine protease inhibitors. Compound 1 displayed high activity against human cathepsin G and α-chymotrypsin (0.39, 0.69 nM). Compound 6 exhibited 0.85 nM inhibition of human chymase. Compound 10 was a selective inhibitor against human neutrophil elastase.