Acythiols and component thiol compositions as anti-HIV and anti-retroviral agents

A method of treating a retroviral infection in an infected mammal, the method comprising administering a compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a compound of formula (I):

• J-K-Q-NR1R2 (I)
• wherein K is selected from the group consisting of K1, K2 and K3:
• wherein A, B, D, and E are each independently selected from the group consisting of CH, CR5, CR6, CR7 and CR8
• J′ and Q′ designate the attachment points for groups J and Q respectively;
• R5, R6, R7 and R8 are independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, CF3, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkoxy, optionally substituted aryl, NO2, optionally substituted alkylthio, optionally substituted amino, optionally substituted acylamino, optionally substituted arylamino, optionally substituted acylthio, optionally substituted acyl, optionally substituted acyloxy, hydroxy, mercapto, and optionally substituted thioamido;
• J is a member selected from the group consisting of (CH2)m—SH, and (CH2)m—S—C(Z)—Y—R3,
• where m is an integer from 0 to 2;
• Z is a member selected from the group consisting of O, S, and NR4;
• Y is a member selected from the group consisting of a bond, O, S, and NR4;
• T is an optionally substituted alkylene of up to about 4 carbons;
• R3 is a member selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted arylalkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, and optionally substituted cycloalkylalkyl;
• R4 is a member selected from the group consisting of H, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkoxy, optionally substituted aryl, and optionally substituted acyl;
• R9 is a member selected from the group consisting of H, optionally substituted amino, optionally substituted acyl, optionally substituted aminoacyl, optionally substituted acyloxy, optionally substituted alkoxyacyl, optionally substituted aryloxyacyl, optionally substituted thioamido, hydroxy, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted arylalkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, and optionally substituted cycloalkylalkyl;
• Q is a member selected from the group consisting of a bond, optionally substituted alkylene, optionally substituted alkylene-C(O), optionally substituted phenylene, optionally substituted cycloalkylene, optionally substituted alkylcycloalkylene, optionally substituted cycloalkylenealkyl,
• wherein L1 and L2 are members independently selected from the group consisting of a bond and an optionally substituted alkylene chain of up to 4 carbons;
• R1 is a member selected from the group consisting of H, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, optionally substituted heteroalkyl, and optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl;
• R2 is a member selected from the group consisting of H, hydroxyl, amino, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted arylalkyl, optionally substituted alkylamine, optionally substituted arylamine, optionally substituted alkoxy, optionally substituted acyl, optionally substituted aminoacyl, optionally substituted alkoxyacyl, optionally substituted alkylthioacyl, optionally substituted arylaminoacyl, optionally substituted aryloxyacyl, optionally substituted arylthioacyl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, optionally substituted heteroalkyl, optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl and optionally substituted acylamino;
• or, alternatively,
• R1 and R2 are optionally linked together to form an optionally substituted ring of up to about seven atoms including the N to which both are attached;
• and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, to an infected mammal;
• wherein the retroviral infection is due to a retrovirus selected from the group consisting of an HIV-1, an HIV-2, an SIV, a BIV, an EIAV, a Visna, a CaEV, an HTLV-1, a BLV, an MPMV, an MMTV, an RSV, an MuLV, a FeLV, a BaEV and an SSV retrovirus.