Figure 1.

Structures of previously identified inhibitors,¹⁸ which are studied further in this work, that bind to the HCV IRES subdomain IIa. Twelve stereochemically distinct inhibitors can be derived from the six structures shown here. The protonation states used in the simulations are as depicted. The locations of the stereocenters in J3, J4, and J5 are indicated by a ● symbol on the chiral carbon. We refer to the identity of the stereoisomer by adding R or S to the name designator (i.e., J3R, J3S, J4R, J4S, J5R, and J5S). The two carbon stereocenters of the J6 diastereomers are indicated with the ● and ■ symbols, and denoted by appending R or S to J6 in that respective order (J6●■): J6RR, J6RS, J6SR, and J6SS. Note: the J4 inhibitor was used in the NMR study,¹² whereas the J5 inhibitor was used in the crystallography study.¹³