A series of S-triazolyl .alpha.-mercaptoacetanilides having N-(.alpha.-mercaptoacetyl) p amino benzoic acid derivatives. ##STR00001## are provided, where Q is CO.sub.2H, or a salt or ester thereof, or a C(O) N-linked amino acid. The compounds inhibit several variants of the reverse transcriptase of HIV, and are useful in the treatment of HIV infections.