PHOTOACTIVE TERTHIOPHENES: THE INFLUENCE OF SERUM ON ANTI‐HIV (HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS) ACTIVITIES

Abstract

A number of carboxylic acid derivatives of the photoactive terthiophene, alpha-terthienyl, were found to possess impressive UVA-dependent activity against the human immunodeficiency virus, HIV-1; but only when assayed in the absence of serum, indicating that the latter contained interfering components. Good antiviral activity required a high rate of singlet oxygen production, in accordance with previous observations on thiophenes.