Linezolid Series

Linezolid is for the treatment of patients with infections caused by serious Gram-positive pathogens, particularly skin and soft tissue infections, communityacquired pneumonia and vancomycin-resistant enterococcal infections. Linezolid is the (S)-enantiomer of an oxazolidin-2-one synthesized in a multistep process from 3,4- difluoronitrobenzene, the key step being the cyclization of a carbamate, using a chiral epoxyester, into an enantiomerically pure oxazolidin-2-one. Linezolid can be considered as the first of a new class of antibacterial agents known as oxazolidinones, its mechanism of action being related to the inhibition of early ribosomal protein synthesis without directly inhibiting DNA or RNA synthesis. In vitro studies demonstrated that linezolid was effective, at potency levels similar to vancomycin, against staphylococcal, streptococcal and pneumococcal infections (MIC values in the range of 0.5 to 2 μg/ml...