The Nitro Group as a Masked Electrophile in Covalent Enzyme Inhibition.
Ray, S., Kreitler, D.F., Gulick, A.M., Murkin, A.S.(2018) ACS Chem Biol 13: 1470-1473
- PubMed: 29782144 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acschembio.8b00225
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
6C4A, 6C4C - PubMed Abstract: 
We report the unprecedented reaction between a nitroalkane and an active-site cysteine residue to yield a thiohydroximate adduct. Structural and kinetic evidence suggests the nitro group is activated by conversion to its nitronic acid tautomer within the active site. The nitro group, therefore, shows promise as a masked electrophile in the design of covalent inhibitors targeting binding pockets with appropriately placed cysteine and general acid residues.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Department of Chemistry , University at Buffalo , Buffalo , New York 14260-3000 , United States.