Broad Spectrum β-lactamase Inhibition by a Thioether Substituted Bicyclic Boronate

β-Lactamases comprise the most important known mode of resistance to β-lactam antibiotics. Boronic acids/boronate esters show promise as a new class of β-lactamase inhibitors with the potential to inhibit both the metallo- and serine-β-lactamases. We report studies employing representative β-lactamases concerning a bicyclic boronate ester with a thioether rather than the more typical β-lactam antibiotic ‘C-6/C-7’ acylamino side chain as present in the penicillin/cephalosporin antibiotics. The results, including a crystal structure of the clinically relevant VIM-2 metallo β-lactamase in complex with the inhibitor, reveal the potential of boronate inhibitors without the canonical acylamino side chain for inhibition of a broader range of serine- and metallo- β-lactamases compared to previous bicyclic boronates, including the metallo-β-lactamase L1. They imply further SAR studies will expand the already broad scope of -lactamase inhibition by bicyclic boronates.