A range of novel benzimidazole derivatives, some bearing analogy to TIBO, have been synthesized, and evaluated for inhibition of HIV-I infectivity. The most active and selective compounds are a series of N-alkoxy-2-alkyl benzimidazoles, several having EC(50) < 10 mu M (one sub-micromolar at 600nM), and selectivity ratios of 10-167. The most selective benzimidazoles, 18a, 18c, show modest RT inhibition, and binding assays indicate gp120-binding is not a target.