Imidazole derivatives having anti-HIV activity

A compound of the formula I:

• ##STR244## wherein:
• R.sup.1 is hydrogen;
• C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkyl;
• halogen;
• or C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl which is unsubstituted or substituted by C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkyl, halogen, nitro, amino, hydroxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkoxy or C.sub.7 -C.sub.22 arylalkyloxy;
• R.sup.2 is selected from the group of hetero rings consisting of pyridyl;
• pyrimidinyl;
• pyridazinyl;
• pyrazinyl;
• imidazolyl;
• oxazolyl;
• and thiazolyl, each of which is unsubstituted or substituted by C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkyl, halogen, nitro, amino, hydroxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkoxy or C.sub.7 -C.sub.22 aralkyloxy;
• R.sup.3 is hydrogen;
• C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkyl;
• C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl which is unsubstituted or substituted by C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkyl, halogen, nitro, amino, hydroxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkoxy or C.sub.7 -C.sub.22 aralkyloxy;
• C.sub.7 -C.sub.22 aralkyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkyl, halogen, nitro, amino, hydroxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkoxy or C.sub.7 -C.sub.22 aralkyloxy;
• or hydroxy(C.sub.1 -C.sub.10)alkyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkyl, C.sub.7 -C.sub.22 aralkyl, benzoyl, 4-nitrobenzoyl, 4-tert-butylbenzoyl, benzenesulfonyl, toluenesulfonyl, formyl, acetyl, propionyl, butyryl or valeryl;
• R.sup.4 is hydrogen;
• C.sub.1 C.sub.10 alkyl;
• halogen;
• benzoyl;
• 4-nitrobenzoyl;
• 4-tert-butylbenzoyl;
• benzenesulfonyl;
• toluenesulfonyl;
• formyl;
• acetyl;
• propionyl;
• butyryl;
• valeryl;
• hydroxy(C.sub.1 -C.sub.10)alkyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkyl, C.sub.7 -C.sub.22 aralkyl, benzoyl, 4-nitrobenzoyl, 4-tert-butylbenzoyl, benzenesulfonyl, toluenesulfonyl, formyl, acetyl, propionyl, butyryl or valeryl;
• carboxyl;
• methoxycarbonyl;
• ethoxycarbonyl;
• tert-butoxycarbonyl;
• benzyloxycarbonyl;
• hydroxy;
• C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl;
• or C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 arylthio;
• X is S, SO, SO.sub.2, CH.sub.2, or Se;
• and
• n is an integer of 1 to 3,
• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.