The proteolytic processing of polyproteins by the 3CL protease of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus is essential for the viral propagation. A series of tripeptide α, β- unsaturated esters and ketomethylene isosteres, including AG7088, are synthesized and assayed to target the 3CL protease. Though AG7088 is inactive (IC50> 100μM), the ketomethylene isosteres and tripeptide α, β-unsaturated esters containing both P1 and P2 ...