Process for preparing triarylmethane derivatives

A process for preparing a triarylmethane derivative having the general formula:

• ##STR211## wherein each R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 represents at least one of hydrogen, halogen, a nitro group, an alkyl group, a substituted alkyl group, an amino group, a substituted amino group, a hydroxyl group, a substituted hydroxyl group, a thiohydroxyl group or a substituted thiohydroxyl group, each R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 represents hydrogen, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group, substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, or a substituted unsaturated alkyl group, R.sub.5 represents at least one of hydrogen, halogen, an alkyl group, a nitro group, a substituted or unsubstituted amino, group, substituted or unsubstituted hydroxyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted thiohydroxyl group which comprises reacting a 3-phenylphthalide derivative having the general formula:
• ##STR212## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are the same as described hereinabove, with an aniline derivative having the general formula:
• ##STR213## wherein R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are the same as hereinabove defined, in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts type catalyst.