The Lossen rearrangement in biological systems. Inactivation of leukocyte elastase and alpha-chymotrypsin by (dl)-3-benzyl-N-(methanesulfonyloxy) succinimide.

(dl)-3-Benzyl-N-(methanesulfonyloxy) succinimide 5 has been found to inactivate human leukocyte elastase and alpha-chymotrypsin efficiently and irreversibly. The kobsd/[I] values were 1170 and 9000 M-1 s-1 respectively. Porcine pancreatic elastase was not inhibited by 5. Compound 5 may constitute the first example of a mechanism-based inhibitor of a serine proteinase that appears to exert its effect via an unprecedented enzyme-induced Lossen rearrangement.