Particular interaction between efavirenz and the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase binding site was investigated, based on the B3LYP/ 6-31G(d,p) and ONIOM2 methods. The interaction between efavirenz and Lys101 was found to be the strongest interaction, typically, -11.29 kcal/mol. The stability of this complex system leads to the foundation of the estimated binding energy of approximately -22.66 kcal/mol. Moreover, two hydrogen bonds between benzoxazin-2-one, and the backbone carbonyl oxygen and the backbone amino hydrogen of Lys101 were observed. These hydrogen bond interactions play an important role in the bound efavirenz/HIV-1 RT complex. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.