The triphenylcarbinol 6, which is the covalent hydrate of the generally accepted, but incorrect structure of aurintricarboxylic acid (ATA), has been synthesized and found to protect against the cytopathic effect of HIV-1 in CEM-V lymphocyte cell culture. The synthesis involved the first preparation of pure methylene disalicylic acid (5). The triphenylcarbinol 6 provides a novel lead, apart from (polymeric) ATA, for the development of potential anti- ...