The present invention features compounds of the following general formula (I) wherein R1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl, aryl, aralkyl; substituted aralkyl, heteroaryl; substituted heteroaryl, phenyl, SO2, NH2, NO2, SO2, CH2, CH2CH3, OCH3, OCOCH3, CH2COCH3, and OH, CN and halogen; R2 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen; lower alkyl, aryl, phenyl, aralkyl; substituted aralkyl, heteroaryl; substituted heteroaryl, SO2 NH2NH3+NO2, SO2, CH3, CH2CH3, OCH3, OCOCH3, CH2COCH3, and OH, halogen, carboxy, and alkoxy; X is selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl, SO2, NH, NO2, , CH3, CH2CH3, OCH3, OCOCH3, CH2COCH3, and OH, carboxy, and alkoxy; and n is an integer from O to 10 and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts of acids or bases as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds. The invention further provides methods for preventing or inhibiting the binding of bromodomains to acetyl-lysine residues of proteins and methods for treating HIV infection and HW related disease. The present invention also features compounds of the following general formula (II) wherein: R1R2 and R3 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen; lower alkyl, aryl, phenyl, aralkyl; substituted aralkyl, heteroaryl; substituted heteroaryl, SO2, NH2, NH3+ NO2, SO2, CH3, CH2CH3, OCH3, OCOCH3, CH2COCH3, OH, SH, halogen, carboxy; and R4 is selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl, aryl, SO2, NH, NO2, CH3, CH2CH3, OCH3, OCOCH3, CH2COCH3, OH, carboxy, and alkoxy as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds. The invention further provides methods for preventing or inhibiting the binding of bromodomains to acetyl-lysine residues of proteins and methods f treating HW infection and HIY related disease. The present invention also features compounds of formula (III) wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 R5, and R6 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen; lower alkyl, aryl, phenyl, aralkyl; substituted aralkyl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, SO2 NH2, NH3+, NO2, SO2, CH3, CH2CH3, OCH3, OCOCH3, CH2COCH3, OCH2CH3, OCH(CH3)2, OCH2COOH, OCHCH3COOH, OCH2COCH3, OCH2CONH2, OCOCH(CH3)2, OCH2CH2OH, OCH2CH2CH3, O(CH2)3CH3, OCHCH3COOCH3, OCH2CON(CH3)2,NH(CH2)3N(CH3)2, NH(CH2)2N(CH3)2, NH(CH2)2OH, NH(CH2)3CH3, NHCH3, SH, halogen, carboxy, and alkoxy as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds. The invention further provides methods for preventing or inhibiting the binding of bromodomains to acetyl-lysine residues of proteins and methods for treating HIV infection and HIV related disease.