1,2,5,6-tetra-O-benzyl-D-mannitol derivatives as novel HIV protease inhibitors.

The synthesis and structure-activity relationships of HIV protease inhibitors derived from carbohydrate alditols are discussed. We disclose a new series of 1,2,5,6-tetra-O-alkyl-D-mannitol exhibiting sub-micromolar activity against HIV-protease. This series of inhibitors are non-nitrogen containing HIV-protease inhibitors and they are readily prepared in a few chemical steps from inexpensive commercially available starting materials.