Diketoacids of Formula A are useful as inhibitors of viral polymerases.
In particular hepatitis C virus RNA dependent RNA polymerase (HCV RdRp), hepatitis
B virus polymerase (HBV pol) and reverse transcriptase of human immunodeficiency
virus (HIV RT):
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The group R may be broadly chosen and is an organic moiety which contains 2 to
24 carbon atoms and includes an optionally cyclic or heterocyclic group in which
the atom directly bonded to the adjacent carbonyl in the diketoacid is part of
the ring structure.