A compound having a structure according to the formula: wherein R* is H or a negative charge; C* is a carbon atom; and is a stereocenter which has a configuration which is selected from and; R 3 is -CH 2 NH 2; R a is H or -YR 5; wherein Y is O or S; R 5 is selected from substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, H and substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkyl; or R 5 is: wherein a is an integer selected from 1 to 10 and optionally is selected from 1 to 5; each R 10 and each R 11 is independently selected from H, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, OH and NH 2; R 12 is selected from H, R 7, halogen, cyano, amidino, OR 7, NR 7 R 8, SR 7, -N(R 7)S 2 R 8, -C R 7, -C OR 7, -C NR 7 R 8 wherein each R 7 and each R 8 is independently selected from 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; and 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; or a salt, hydrate, solvate or anhydride thereof; wherein the term "alkyl" means C 1 -C 10 alkyl; and wherein substituents for alkyl radicals are each independently selected from the group consisting of -R', -OR', =O, =NR', =N-OR', -NR'R", -SR', -halogen, -SiR'R"R"', -OC R', -C R', -CO 2 R', -CONR'R",-OC NR'R", -NR"C R', -NR'-C NR"R"', -NR"C 2 R', -NR""'-C(NR'R"R"')=NR"", -NR""-C(NR'R")=NR"', -S R', -S 2 R', -S 2 NR'R",-NR"SO 2 R', -CN, -NO 2, -N 3, -CH(Ph) 2, fluoro(C 1 -C 4)alkoxy, and fluoro(C 1 -C 4)alkyl, in a number ranging from zero to (2m'+1), where m' is the total number of carbon atoms in the "alkyl" group, and wherein R', R", R"', R"", and R''''' each independently refer to hydrogen, heteroalkyl, aryl, alkyl, alkoxy, thioalkoxy groups, or arylalkyl groups. R* is H or a negative charge; C* is a carbon atom; and is a stereocenter which has a configuration which is selected from and; R 3 is -CH 2 NH 2; R a is H or -YR 5; wherein Y is O or S; R 5 is selected from substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, H and substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkyl; or R 5 is: wherein a is an integer selected from 1 to 10 and optionally is selected from 1 to 5; each R 10 and each R 11 is independently selected from H, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, OH and NH 2; R 12 is selected from H, R 7, halogen, cyano, amidino, OR 7, NR 7 R 8, SR 7, -N(R 7)S 2 R 8, -C R 7, -C OR 7, -C NR 7 R 8 wherein each R 7 and each R 8 is independently selected from 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; and Y is O or S; R 5 is selected from substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, H and substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkyl; or R 5 is: wherein a is an integer selected from 1 to 10 and optionally is selected from 1 to 5; each R 10 and each R 11 is independently selected from H, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, OH and NH 2; R 12 is selected from H, R 7, halogen, cyano, amidino, OR 7, NR 7 R 8, SR 7, -N(R 7)S 2 R 8, -C R 7, -C OR 7, -C NR 7 R 8 wherein each R 7 and each R 8 is independently selected from 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; and a is an integer selected from 1 to 10 and optionally is selected from 1 to 5; each R 10 and each R 11 is independently selected from H, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, OH and NH 2; R 12 is selected from H, R 7, halogen, cyano, amidino, OR 7, NR 7 R 8, SR 7, -N(R 7)S 2 R 8, -C R 7, -C OR 7, -C NR 7 R 8 wherein each R 7 and each R 8 is independently selected from 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; and wherein each R 7 and each R 8 is independently selected from 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; and each R 7 and each R 8 is independently selected from 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; and wherein the term "alkyl" means C 1 -C 10 alkyl; and wherein substituents for alkyl radicals are each independently selected from the group consisting of -R', -OR', =O, =NR', =N-OR', -NR'R", -SR', -halogen, -SiR'R"R"', -OC R', -C R', -CO 2 R', -CONR'R",-OC NR'R", -NR"C R', -NR'-C NR"R"', -NR"C 2 R', -NR""'-C(NR'R"R"')=NR"", -NR""-C(NR'R")=NR"', -S R', -S 2 R', -S 2 NR'R",-NR"SO 2 R', -CN, -NO 2, -N 3, -CH(Ph) 2, fluoro(C 1 -C 4)alkoxy, and fluoro(C 1 -C 4)alkyl, in a number ranging from zero to (2m'+1), where m' is the total number of carbon atoms in the "alkyl" group, and wherein R', R", R"', R"", and R''''' each independently refer to hydrogen, heteroalkyl, aryl, alkyl, alkoxy, thioalkoxy groups, or arylalkyl groups.