Chem. [f. TRI- 5 + PHENYL.] A prelix denoting that three phenyl groups, C6H5, are substituted for three hydrogen atoms in the substance designated by the rest of the name; e.g., triphenylacetic acid, C(C6H5)3.CO2H, from acetic acid, CH3.CO2H. So Triphenylmethane, CH(C6H5)3, from methane, CH4; Triphenylmethyl-, C(C6H5) —, from methyl, CH3. But this term may also indicate the presence of three phenyl groups and one methyl group, (C6H5),(CH3); Triphenylcarbinol, C(OH)(C6H5)3, from carbinol, CH3OH; Triphenylamine, formerly triphenylia, N(C6H5)3, from ammonia, NH3; Triphenylrosaniline, C(OH){C6H4.NH(C6H5}2 {C6H5(CH3).NH(C6H5)}, from rosaniline, C(OH){C6H4.NH32}2{C6H3(CH3).NH2}; the hydrochloric acid derivative of this is a blue dye-stuff. So also Triphenylated a., containing three phenyl groups.
1858. Fownes, Elem. Chem. (ed. 7), 601. Triphenylamine.
1862. Miller, Elem. Chem. (ed. 2), III. 444. Triphenylia.
1871. Jrnl. Chem. Soc., XXIV. 143. An alcoholic solution of triphenylguanidine absorbs large quantities of cyanogen.
1830. Friswell in Jrnl. Soc. Arts, 445. The hydrochloride of triphenylrosaniline.
1893. Thorpe, Dict. App. Chem., III. 874. Triphenylrosanilines. The triphenylated derivatives of ordinary rosaniline may be subdivided into two classes: crystalline and uncrystallisable blues.
1894. Muir & Morley, Watts’ Dict. Chem., IV. 2. Tri-phenyl benzene C24H18 i. e. C6H3Ph3.
