A Practical Synthesis of Nonpeptide Cyclic Ureas as Potent HIV Protease Inhibitors.

Abstract The utilization of the oxydimethylene group to form a trioxepane ring for the protection of 1,2-diols was demonstrated. A process starting with natural L-tartaric acid as the chiral building block is utilized in the synthesis of optically active, nonpeptide cyclic ureas useful as HIV protease inhibitors.