Hydroxamic acid

Deprotonation occurs at the −N(−OH)− group, with the hydrogen atom being removed, resulting in a hydroxamate anion R−C(=O)−N(−O−)−R'.

[9] Nature has evolved families of hydroxamic acids to function as iron-binding compounds (siderophores) in bacteria.

The resulting complexes are transported into the cell, where the iron is extracted and utilized metabolically.

[11] Hydroxamic acids are used extensively in flotation of rare earth minerals during the concentration and extraction of ores to be subjected to further processing.

[12][13] Some hydroxamic acids (e.g. vorinostat, belinostat, panobinostat, and trichostatin A) are HDAC inhibitors with anti-cancer properties.