Design and synthesis of dual inhibitors of HIV reverse transcriptase and integrase: introducing a diketoacid functionality into delavirdine.

Cost and toxicity problems associated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in HIV/AIDS treatment could be alleviated by using designed multiple ligands (DMLs). Dual inhibitors of HIV reverse transcriptase (RT) and integrase (IN) were rationally designed by introducing a diketoacid (DKA) functionality into the tolerant C-5 site of RT inhibitor delavirdine. The resulting compounds all demonstrate good activity against both RT and IN in enzymatic assays and HIV in cell-based assay, whereas their C-7 regioisomers are all inactive in these assays. Balanced activities were observed with C-3 halogenated inhibitors.