Compounds of the formula I:
wherein
R
1
, R
2
, X and N are as defined in the specification;
E is N, CH;
A′ and A″ are terminal groups as defined in the specification.
The compounds have utility as HIV-1 protease inhibitors.
A new generation of HIV-1 protease inhibitors encompassing a tertiary-alcohol-based transition-state mimic has been developed. By elongation of the core structure of recently reported inhibitors with two carbon atoms and by varying the P1' group of the compounds, efficient inhibitors were obtained with Ki down to 2.3 nM and EC50 down to 0.17 microM. Two inhibitor-enzyme X-ray structures are reported