SUMMARY: Hydroxamic acids, a group of naturally occurring and synthetic weak organic acids of general formula RC(=O)N(R')OH, are widespread in the tissues of plants, in metabolites of bacteria

Hydroxamic acids, a group of naturally occurring and synthetic weak organic acids of general formula RC(=O)N(R')OH, are widespread in the tissues of plants, in metabolites of bacteria and fungi, including complex compounds. Hydroxamic acids and their derivatives fulfill a variety of important roles in biology and medicine; here we provide a comprehensive brief review of the most basic medicinal chemistry and pharmacology of hydroxamate molecules.