The present invention relates to β-hydroxy and amino-substituted carboxylic acids, which act as matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors, particularly diastereomerically pure β-hydroxy carboxylic acids, corresponding processes for their synthesis, and pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds of the present invention. Compounds of the present invention are useful in the treatment of various inflammatory, autoimmune, and allergic diseases, such as methods of treating asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, COPD, rhinitis, osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, psoriasis, pulmonary fibrosis, wound healing disorders, pulmonary inflammation, acute respiratory distress syndrome, perodontitis, multiple sclerosis, gingivitis, atherosclerosis, neointimal proliferation, which leads to restenosis and ischemic heart failure, stroke, renal diseases, tumor metastasis, and other inflammatory disorders characterized by the over-expression and over-activation of a matrix metalloproteinase.