Octahydroxyanthraquinone

Octahydroxyanthraquinone is an organic compound with formula, formally derived from anthraquinone by replacement of 8 hydrogen atoms by hydroxyl groups.

The compound was obtained in 1911 by Georg von Georgievics and can be obtained through oxidation of rufigallol (1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahydroxyanthraquinone) with boric acid and mercuric oxide in sulfuric acid at 250 C.

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