Triphenyl methane compounds or analogues thereof where one or more of the phenyl groups is substituted and the tertiary carbon atom is replaced for sickle cell disease,
The triphenylmethane compound has the formula (A) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate thereof wherein n is 0 to 4; R1 is -H, -OR, -SR, -CN, -C(O)R, -C(S)R, -C(O)OR, -C(S)OR, -C(O)SR, -C(S)SR, -C(O)NR2, -C(S)NR2, -CH[C(O)R]2, -CH[C(S)R]2, -CH[C(O)OR]2, -CH[C(S)OR]2, -CH[C(O)SR]2 or -CH[C(S)SR]2; R2 is F, Cl, Br or I; R3 is R, OR or SR; R4 is H or NR2; R4' is H, F, Cl, Br or I and each R is H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or alkoxy with the proviso that (i) when n is 0 and R1 is H or OH, R2 is Cl, R4 = R4' then R3 is other than H and (ii) when n is 0 and R1 is H, R2 is Cl, R4 = R4' then R3 is other than OH. The triphenylmethane compound has the formula (B) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate thereof wherein n is 0 to 4; R1 is NR2, C(O)R, -C(S)R, -C(O)NR'2 or -C(S)NR'2; R2 is F, Cl, Br or I; R3 is F, Cl, Br or I; R4 is F, Cl, Br or I and each R and R' are independently H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or alkoxy. The triphenylmethane compound can also has the formula (C) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate thereof wherein n is 0 to 4; Ar1 is phenyl or cyclohexyl; R1 is NR2, -C(O)NR2, -C(S)NR2, -CH[C(O)OR]2, -CH[C(S)OR]2, -CH[C(O)SR]2 or -CH[C(S)SR]2 and each R is H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or alkoxy; with the proviso that when R1 is NH2 or -C(O)NH2, n is 1, 2 or 3. A pharmaceutical composition thereof useful for: a) inhibiting calcium-activated potassium transport of a cell, b) reducing sickle erythrocyte dehydration or delaying the occurrence of erythrocyte sickling or deformation, c) treating or preventing sickle cell disease or d) for inhibiting mammalian cell proliferation.