A Prochelator Activated by Hydrogen Peroxide Prevents Metal‐Induced Amyloid β Aggregation

The masked marvel: Elevated production of H2O2 by deviant species of Cu–Aβ (Cu–amyloid beta) might trigger neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease. A new boronic ester-masked prochelator called QBP is activated under conditions that mimic early Alzheimer's pathology in which copper, Aβ, and reductants exacerbate reactive oxygen species formation. Once activated to its unmasked form, the released chelator diminishes copper's pro-oxidant reactivity and inhibits Aβ aggregation.