The present invention relates to: a process for preparing 3,7-bis-(dimethylamino)-phenothiazin-5-ium bromide or chloride; a method of converting 3,7-bis-(dimethylamino)-phenothiazin-5-ium bromide to 3,7-bis-(dimethylamino)-phenothiazin-5-ium chloride; and the purification of 7-bis-(dimethylamino)-phenothiazin-5-ium chloride by crystallization from aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid, leading to a pharmaceutically acceptable 3,7-bis-(dimethylamino)-phenothiazin-5-ium chloride (methylthioninium chloride, methylene blue, MTC) of formula I below reported.

##STR00001##

The present invention relates to: a process for preparing 3,7-bis-(dimethylamino)-phenothiazin-5-ium bromide or chloride; a method of converting 3,7-bis-(dimethylamino)-phenothiazin-5-ium bromide to 3,7-bis-(dimethylamino)-phenothiazin-5-ium chloride; and the purification of 7-bis-(dimethylamino)-phenothiazin-5-ium chloride by crystallization from aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid, leading to a pharmaceutically acceptable 3,7-bis-(dimethylamino)-phenothiazin-5-ium chloride (methylthioninium chloride, methylene blue, MTC) of formula I below reported.

##STR00001##

The present invention relates to heterocyclic compounds of Formula I useful as anti-infective agents. The present invention further relates to a method of treating an infection by administering such compounds, and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds. ##STR00001##

The present invention relates to heterocyclic compounds of Formula I useful as anti-infective agents. The present invention further relates to a method of treating an infection by administering such compounds, and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds. ##STR00001##

The invention provides compounds formula (I) and salts thereof: ##STR00001## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.6 and Y have any of the values defined in the specification. The compounds are useful for treatment or suppression of diseases associated with decreased mitochondrial function resulting in diminished ATP production and/or oxidative stress and/or lipid peroxidation.

The invention provides compounds formula (I) and salts thereof: ##STR00001## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.6 and Y have any of the values defined in the specification. The compounds are useful for treatment or suppression of diseases associated with decreased mitochondrial function resulting in diminished ATP production and/or oxidative stress and/or lipid peroxidation.

A process for continuous dissolution of a solid in a reaction medium includes: (a) providing a liquid by withdrawal of a portion of the reaction medium from a first reaction vessel; (b) contacting the liquid provided in (a) with the solid in a second reaction vessel to form a solution of the solid; and (c) recycling the solution formed in step b) into the first reaction vessel. The solid in the second reaction vessel is present in the form of a fixed bed which is traversed by the liquid.

A non-leaching mediator may include a polymer having a polymeric backbone, and a plurality of phenothiazine groups bonded to the polymeric backbone. The plurality of phenothiazine groups may include at least one of a phenothiazine group having the general formula (IV): ##STR00001##
and salts thereof, where n is about 9 and R represents the polymeric backbone to which the phenothiazine group is bonded, and a phenothiazine group having the general formula (V): ##STR00002##
and salts thereof, where n is about 9 and R represents the polymeric backbone to which the phenothiazine group is bonded.

A non-leaching mediator may include a polymer having a polymeric backbone, and a plurality of phenothiazine groups bonded to the polymeric backbone. The plurality of phenothiazine groups may include at least one of a phenothiazine group having the general formula (IV): ##STR00001##
and salts thereof, where n is about 9 and R represents the polymeric backbone to which the phenothiazine group is bonded, and a phenothiazine group having the general formula (V): ##STR00002##
and salts thereof, where n is about 9 and R represents the polymeric backbone to which the phenothiazine group is bonded.

The present invention is directed to compounds, compositions and methods for treating or preventing HIV and other viral infections, particularly where the virus is present in macrophages, microglia, and primary myeloid cells, and eliminating and/or treating infection in patients infected by these viruses.