This invention is in the area of phenylindoles that are useful for the treatment of HIV infection, and, in particular, phenylindoles that exhibit significant activity against resistant strains of HIV. The phenylindoles have at least two substituents other than hydrogen on the benzo ring of the indole function, preferably at the 4′ and 5′, 5′ and 6′ or the 5′ and 7′ positions, optionally in combination with disubstitution at positions 3″ and 5″ on the phenyl ring of the compound, and carboxamide containing moieties at position-2 on the indole group of the compound. Methyl is a preferred group for substitution on the phenyl ring. Preferred substituents for the benzo ring of the indole function include but are not limited to chlorine, fluorine, bromine, iodine, CF3, methoxy, CN, and NO2.