5,5'-Methylenedisalicylic acid Derivatives as Inhibitors of the Protein Phosphatase CppA in Chlamydia trachomatis

A structure-based designed library of new 5,5’-methylenedisalicyclic acid (MDSA) derivatives were synthesized as a func-tional core and explored for their anti-bacterial activity against Chlamydia trachomatis. Various well-established reactions such as amide coupling, basic ester hydrolysis, phosphorylation, sulfonation, acetylation, and hydrogenation reactions were utilized to tune or substitute the carboxylic acid and phenolic groups of MDSA, converting them into amide, ester, phos-phoryl, sulfonyl and acetyl functionalities. Both symmetrical and asymmetrical derivatives were prepared and subsequently tested for mammalian cell cytotoxicity, CppA enzyme inhibition, and inhibition of infection.