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 Wahl, Andre; Atack, F. W (1919) The Manufacture Of Organic Dyestuffs. G. Bell And Sons, Limited. Online version accessed on 22 January 2010. 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 .
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.
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