A renin inhibiting compound of the formula:
wherein A is a substituent; W is C=O or CHOH; U is CH₂ or NR₂, provided that when W is CHOH then U is CH₂; R₁ is loweralkyl, cycloalkylmethyl, benzyl, 4-methoxybenzyl, halobenzyl, (1-naphthyl)methyl, (2-naphthyl)methyl, (4-imidazoyl)methyl, α, α -dimethylbenzyl, 1-benzyloxyethyl, phenethyl, phenoxy, thiophenoxy or anilino; R₂ is hydrogen or loweralkyl; R₃ is loweralkyl, [(alkoxy)alkoxy]alkyl, (thioalkoxy)alkyl, lowerakenyl, benzyl or heterocyclic ring substituted methyl; R₄ is loweralkyl, cycloalkylmethyl or benzyl; R₅ is vinyl, formyl, hydroxymethyl or hydrogen; R₇ is hydrogen or loweralkyl; R₈ and R₉ are independently selected from OH and NH₂; and R₆ is hydrogen, loweralkyl, vinyl or arylalkyl; provided that when R₅ and R₇ are both hydrogen and R₈ and R₉ are OH, the carbon bearing R₅ is of the "R" configuration and the carbon bearing R₆ is of the "S" configuration; or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereof. Also disclosed are renin inhibiting compositions, a method of treating hypertension, methods of making the renin inhibiting compounds and intermediates useful in making the renin inhibiting compounds.