Silanediol-Based inhibitor of thermolysin

The first silanediol inhibitor of thermolysin is reported, prepared by analogy with the Grobelny/Bartlett phosphinate inhibitor. A Cbz group on nitrogen proved to be unstable to the triflic acid mediated silanediol deprotection and was replaced with a dihydrocinnamoyl group. The silanediol was prepared in high purity by hydrolysis of a difluorosilane intermediate and proved to be an effective inhibitor, differing from the phosphinate by a factor of 4 (Ki=41 nM).