SYNTHESIS OF THE COVALENT HYDRATE OF THE INCORRECTLY ASSUMED STRUCTURE OF AURINTRICARBOXYLIC ACID (ATA)

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-AIDS agents. The central carbinol oxygen of 6 did not exchange in the presence of excess oxygen-18 labelled water at room temperature even after seven days, indicating that there was no equilibration between 6 and 1 under these conditions. © 1990.