Diketo acid derivatives are potent and selective HIV-1 integrase inhibitors. To investigate the detailed synthesis of those derivatives, a series of p/m- [p-(un)substituted phenylsulfonamido]phenyl β-diketo acid derivatives have been designed and synthesized. The quinoxalone derivatives as the potential bioisosteres of the biologically labile β-diketoacid pharmacophores have also been synthesized from reactions of the corresponding diketo acids with o-phenylenediamine. The structures of all diketo acid (ester) and quinoxalone derivatives were confirmed by 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR, IR, HRMS and/or MS (ESI). X-ray crystallographic analysis of 11b demonstrates a similar arrangement of the side chain of quinoxalone derivatives with the parent diketoacids due to the intramolecular hydrogen bond (O…H-N) and the sp 2 hybridization configuration of the two nitrogen atoms of the quinoxalone ring.Keywords β-diketo acid, quinoxalone derivative, HIV-1 integrase inhibitor, X-ray crystal structure Figure 1 Structure of diketo acid and designed quinoxalone molecules. β-Diketo acid Chin.goal is to replace the critical diketo acid pharmacophore with quinoxal-2-one moiety.Very recently, we have reported the X-ray crystallographic analysis of 10a, 16 11c 17 and 11d 18 and demonstrated that products from a reaction of 4-(phenylsulfonamido)phenyl-2,4-dioxobutanoic acids with o-phenylenediamine would generate quinoxalone derivatives, rather than 2-substituted benzimidazole derivatives. Here, we present full details of the design and synthesis of a series of p/m- [p-(un)substituted phenylsulfonamido]phenyl β-diketo acid and quinoxalone derivatives. The X-ray crystal structure analysis of a quinoxalone derivative 11b is also disclosed. Scheme 2 The possible products from a reaction of the diketoacid with o-phenylenediamine β-Diketo acid Chin.