Synthesis of quinolin-2-one alkaloid derivatives and their inhibitory activities against HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.

Based on an established common pharmacophore of HIV-1 non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNTTIs), a series of quinolin-2-one derivatives were synthesized and assayed for their in vitro activities against HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) for the first time. Some of the tested compounds were active against HIV-1 RT. Compounds 4a2 and 4d2 showed inhibitory activities with IC(50) values of 0.21 and 0.15 mM, respectively, with a mode of interaction with RT residues of the allosteric pocket similar to that of efavirenz.