Synthesis of Novel, Potent, Diol-Based HIV-1 Protease Inhibitors via Intermolecular Pinacol Homocoupling of (2<i>S</i>)-2-Benzyloxymethyl-4-phenylbutanal
compared to the parent series represented by inhibitors 6 and 7. Inhibitor 8b was found to be a potent inhibitor of HIV-1 protease (PR), showing excellent antiviral activity in the cell-based assay and in the presence of 40% human serum. The absolute stereochemistry of the central diol of the potent inhibitor (8b) was determined from the X-raycrystallographicstructure of its complex with HIV-1 PR