Inhibition of herpes proteases and antiviral activity of 2-substituted thieno[2,3-d]oxazinones.

Cinnamyl derivatives of thieno[2,3-d]oxazinones are mechanism-based inhibitors of the HSV-2, VZV and CMV herpes proteases which demonstrate nanomolar potency. Compounds 5 and 28 inhibit protease processing in HSV-2 infected cells with a selectivity index of at least 30.