Anthraquinones

For the parent molecule 9,10 anthraquinone, see anthraquinone

Anthraquinones (also known as anthraquinonoids) are a class of naturally occurring phenolic compounds based on the 9,10 anthraquinone skeleton. They are widely used industrially and occur naturally. The name "anthraquinone" was first used by German chemists Carl Graebe and Carl Theodore Liebermann in a 1868 publication describing the chemical synthesis of the red dye alizarin from anthracene, a component of coal tar. This discovery led to the industrial production of alizarin and the impetus for further research on anthraquinone chemistry.

Natural pigments that are derivatives of anthraquinone are found, inter alia, in aloe latex, senna, rhubarb, and cascara buckthorn, fungi, lichens, and some insects. A type II polyketide synthase is responsible for anthraquinone biosynthesis in the bacterium Photorhabdus luminescens. Chorismate, formed by isochorismate synthase in the shikimate pathway, is a precursor of anthraquinones in Morinda citrifolia. Tests for anthraquinones in natural extracts have been established. Senna glycosides from the senna. Frangulin in Frangula alnus. Aloe emodin in aloe resin. Carmine, a bright red pigment derived from insects. Hypericin and fagopyrin are naphthodianthrones, anthraquinone derivatives.

A large industrial application of anthraquinones is for the production of hydrogen peroxide. 2 Ethyl 9,10 anthraquinone or a related alkyl derivative is used, rather than anthraquinone itself. Millions of tons of hydrogen peroxide are manufactured by the anthraquinone process.

Sodium 2 anthraquinonesulfonate (AMS) is a water soluble anthraquinone derivative that was the first anthraquinone derivative discovered to have a catalytic effect in the alkaline pulping processes.

The 9,10 anthraquinone skeleton occurs in many dyes, such as alizarin. Important derivatives of 9,10 anthraquinone are 1 nitroanthraquinone, anthraquinone 1 sulfonic acid, and the dinitroanthraquinone.

Derivatives of 9,10 anthraquinone include drugs such as the anthracenediones and the anthracycline family of chemotherapy drugs. The latter drugs are derived from the bacterium Streptomyces peucetius, discovered in a soil sample near the Adriatic sea. Drugs in the anthraquinone family include the prototypical daunorubicin, doxorubicin, mitoxantrone, losoxantrone, and pixantrone. Most of these drugs, with the notable exception of pixantrone, are extremely cardiotoxic, causing irreversible cardiomyopathy, which can limit their practical usefulness in cancer treatment. Dantron, emodin, and aloe emodin, and some of the senna glycosides have laxative effects. Prolonged use and abuse leads to melanosis coli.