Methods of treating retroviral infection and compounds useful therefor

A method for treating an HIV infection in a subject having an HIV infection, said method comprising administering a compound of Formula I:

• ##STR22## wherein:
• L is a linking group selected from the group consisting of:
• ##STR23## wherein R.sub.5, R.sub.6, R.sub.7, and R.sub.8 are each individually selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, halo, aryl, arylalkyl, aminoalkyl, aminoaryl, oxoalkyl, oxoaryl, and oxoarylalkyl;
• R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each individually selected from the group consisting of ##STR24## wherein R.sub.9 and R.sub.10 are each individually selected from the group consisting of H, hydroxyl, and alkyl, or R.sub.9 and R.sub.10 together represent a group selected from the group consisting of --(CH2).sub.n -- where n is 2, 3,or 4, and ##STR25## where m is 1, 2, or 3;
• and R.sub.14 is H or --CONHR.sub.15 R.sub.16 R.sub.17, wherein R.sub.15 is lower alkyl and R.sub.16 and R.sub.17 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H and lower alkyl;
• R.sub.11 is H or alkyl;
• R.sub.12 is H or alkyl;
• R.sub.13 is selected from the groups consisting of alkyl, alkylamine, alkylmorpholino, and alkylaminophenyl;
• and
• R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are each individually selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl and alkoxy;
• and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof;
• in an amount effective to treat said HIV infection.