N-Substituted Hydroxyureas as Urease Inhibitors.

In order to seek a urease inhibitor more potent than hydroxyurea (1), its alkyl- or phenyl-substituted derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their effect on the jack bean urease. Of 16 compounds tested, m-methyl- (10) and m-methoxy-phenyl substituted hydroxyurea (13) showed the most potent inhibitory activities against the enzyme.