Boron-containing small molecules

1. A compound having a structure according to the formula:

wherein

R* is H or negative charge;

R 3 is selected from the group consisting of cyano, substituted or unsubstituted nitroalkyl and substituted or unsubstituted aminoalkyl;

R e is —YR 5

wherein

Y is O or S;

R 5 is

wherein

a is a member selected from 1 to 10;

each R 10 and each R 11 is independently selected from the group consisting of H, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, OH and NH 2 ;

R 12 is selected from the group consisting of H, R 7 , halogen, cyano, amidino, OR 7 , NR 7 R 8 , SR 7 , —N(R 7 )S(O) 2 R 8 , —C(O)R 7 , —C(O)OR 7 , and —C(O)NR 7 R 8

wherein

each R 7 and each R 8 is independently selected from the group consisting of H, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heterocycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, and substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl

with the proviso that R a and R*, together with the atoms to which they are attached, are optionally combined to form a 6- to 10-membered substituted or unsubstituted heterocycloalkyl ring; and

or a salt thereof.

2. The compound of claim 1 , having a structure according to the following formula:

wherein C* is a carbon atom stereocenter which has a configuration which is (R) or (S).

3. A compound having a structure according to a formula which is selected from the group consisting of:

wherein

R* is H or negative charge;

R q is —SO 2 —R b ;

R b is unsubstituted phenyl or unsubstituted pyridinyl;

R 3 is selected from the group consisting of cyano, substituted or unsubstituted nitroalkyl and substituted or unsubstituted aminoalkyl;

or a salt thereof.

4. The compound of claim 3 , having a structure according to a formula which is selected from the group consisting of:

wherein C* is a carbon atom

with the proviso that when R 3 is not H, C* is a stereocenter which has a configuration which is (R) or (S).

5. The compound of claim 1 or claim 3 , wherein the salt is a pharmaceutically acceptable salt.

6. A composition comprising:

a) a first stereoisomer of the compound of claim 2 or claim 4 , wherein R 3 is not H;

b) at least one additional stereoisomer of the first stereoisomer;

wherein the first stereoisomer is present in an enantiomeric excess of at least 80% relative to said at least one additional stereoisomer.

7. A composition comprising the compound of claim 2 or claim 4 , wherein the C* stereocenter is in a (S) configuration, and said composition is substantially free of the enantiomer of the compound.

8. A combination comprising the compound of claim 1 or claim 3 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, together with at least one additional compound which is selected from the group consisting of an antimicrobial, an immune therapy, a therapeutic vaccine, an antifibrotic agent, an antiinflammatory agent, a bronchodilator, a mucolytic agent, an anti-muscarinic, an anti-leukotriene, an inhibitor of cell adhesion, an anti-oxidant, a cytokine agonist, a cytokine antagonist, and a lung surfactant.

9. A pharmaceutical formulation comprising:

a) the compound of claim 1 or claim 3 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and

b) a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.

10. The pharmaceutical formulation of claim 9 wherein the pharmaceutical formulation is a unit dosage form.

11. The combination of claim 8 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein the antimicrobial is an antibacterial.

12. A method of inhibiting a bacterial or fungal leucyl tRNA synthetase enzyme, comprising: contacting the bacterial or fungal leucyl tRNA synthetase enzyme with the compound of claim 1 or claim 3 , thereby inhibiting the bacterial or fungal leucyl tRNA synthetase enzyme.

13. A method of treating a bacterial-associated or fungal-associated disease in an animal, comprising: administering to the animal a therapeutically effective amount of the compound of claim 1 or claim 3 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, thereby treating the bacterial-associated or fungal-associated disease.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the animal is a human.