Chromenone derivatives as a versatile scaffold with dual mode of inhibition of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase-associated Ribonuclease H function and integrase activity.

A number of compounds targeting different processes of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) life cycle have been developed in the continuing fight against AIDS. Coumarin-based molecules already proved to act as HIV-1 Protease (PR) or Integrase (IN) inhibitors and also to target HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT), blocking the DNA-dependent DNA-polymerase activity or the RNA-dependent DNA-polymerase activity working as common NNRTIs. In the present study, with the aim to exploit a coumarin-based scaffold to achieve the inhibition of multiple viral coded enzymatic functions, novel 4-hydroxy-2 H , 5H-pyrano (3, 2-c) chromene–2, 5–dione derivatives were synthesized. The modeling studies calculated the theoretical binding affinity of the synthesized compounds on both HIV-1 IN and RT-associated Ribonuclease H (RNase H) active sites, which was confirmed by biological assays. Our results provide a basis for the identification of dual HIV-1 IN and RT RNase H inhibitors compounds. Image 1 • Dual inhibitors are a new approach in the anti-HIV therapy. • 16 4-hydroxypyranobenzopyran derivatives were synthesized as dual inhibitors. • They showed anti-HIV activity in the low micromolar range. • Modeling studies were applied on both HIV-1 IN and RT RNase H active site. • Compound 7 was the most promising HIV-1 IN and RT RNase H dual inhibitor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]