4,4'-Dihydroxytriphenylmethanes were synthesized usingBrønstedacid or Lewis acid in yields of 24-86% as target compounds for developing antiviral agents. Most of the 4,4'-dihydroxytriphenylmethanes showed significant activity against herpes simplex virus type 1 (anti-HSV-1 activity) in a plaque reduction assay. Higher cytotoxicity was observed generally in halogenated 4,4'-dihydroxytriphenylmethanes