Octahydroxyanthraquinone is an

organic compound In chemistry, organic compounds are generally any chemical compounds that contain carbon-hydrogen or carbon-carbon bonds. Due to carbon's ability to catenate (form chains with other carbon atoms), millions of organic compounds are known. T ...

with formula , formally derived from

anthraquinone Anthraquinone, also called anthracenedione or dioxoanthracene, is an aromatic organic compound with formula . Isomers include various quinone derivatives. The term anthraquinone however refers to the isomer, 9,10-anthraquinone (IUPAC: 9,10-dioxoan ...

by replacement of 8

hydrogen Hydrogen is the chemical element with the symbol H and atomic number 1. Hydrogen is the lightest element. At standard conditions hydrogen is a gas of diatomic molecules having the formula . It is colorless, odorless, tasteless, non-toxic ...

atoms by

hydroxyl In chemistry, a hydroxy or hydroxyl group is a functional group with the chemical formula and composed of one oxygen atom covalently bonded to one hydrogen atom. In organic chemistry, alcohols and carboxylic acids contain one or more hydro ...

groups. The compound was obtained in 1911 by Georg von Georgievics Wahl, Andre; Atack, F. W (1919) ''The Manufacture Of Organic Dyestuffs''. G. Bell And Sons, Limited
Online version
accessed on 2010-01-22. and can be obtained through

oxidation Redox (reduction–oxidation, , ) is a type of chemical reaction in which the oxidation states of substrate change. Oxidation is the loss of electrons or an increase in the oxidation state, while reduction is the gain of electrons or a ...

of rufigallol ( 1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahydroxyanthraquinone) with

boric acid Boric acid, more specifically orthoboric acid, is a compound of boron, oxygen, and hydrogen with formula . It may also be called hydrogen borate or boracic acid. It is usually encountered as colorless crystals or a white powder, that dissolve ...

and

mercuric oxide Mercury(II) oxide, also called mercuric oxide or simply mercury oxide, is the inorganic compound with the formula Hg O. It has a red or orange color. Mercury(II) oxide is a solid at room temperature and pressure. The mineral form montroydite is v ...

in sulfuric acid at .

Ester In chemistry, an ester is a compound derived from an oxoacid (organic or inorganic) in which at least one hydroxyl group () is replaced by an alkoxy group (), as in the substitution reaction of a carboxylic acid and an alcohol. Glycerides a ...

s of octahydroxyanthraquinone, where all eight hydroxyls are replaced by straight-chain 1-alkanecarboxylate groups -()_''n''-COO-, with ''n'' between 6 and 14, are liquid crystals and have been studied for possible LCD applications. Octahydroxyanthraquinone is active against the malaria parasite, but

rufigallol Rufigallol or 1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone is an organic compound with formula , which can be viewed as a derivative of anthraquinone through the replacement of six hydrogen atoms (H) by hydroxyl groups (OH). The compound is solub ...

(1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahydroxyanthraquinone) is 22 times more potent.

References

{{Reflist Hydroxyanthraquinones 3-Hydroxypropenals within hydroxyquinones