Scheme 1.

Design of anti-quorum sensing compounds based on the autoinducer structural characteristics, AHL, and bioisosteric replacement. The general core structure of the anti-quorum sensing compounds presented here is shown on the left. In the middle and on the right are illustrations of two N-acyl homoserine-lactone autoinducers (C4-AHL, C6-AHL) responsible for bacterial cell communication via quorum sensing. The N-acyl carbon chain is a consistent structural fragment in all three molecules and is marked in red. The bioisosteric proton acceptor substitution of the carbonyl moiety with the tertiary amine is highlighted with a green dashed line rectangle, visualizing the proton-binding area.