[1] It is the free base form of pararosaniline hydrochloride, [(H2NC6H4)3C]+Cl−, a magenta solid with a variety of uses as a dye.

[2][3] It is one of the four components of basic fuchsine.

[4] It is structurally related to other triarylmethane dyes called methyl violets (e.g. crystal violet) which feature methyl groups on nitrogen.

It is prepared by the condensation of aniline and p-aminobenzaldehyde [pt].

Alternatively, it arises from the oxidation of 4,4'-bis(aminophenyl)methane in the presence of aniline.