1955 Volume 75 Issue 2 Pages 222-224
Damnacanthal (I), an anthraquinone isolated from a plant of Damnacanthus genus, possesses a free hydroxyl in β-position because it is acetylated and is methylated by diazomethane. Its aldehyde group is present in the ortho-position to the hydroxyl since the Perkin reaction of (I) gives a coumarin derivative and forms a triacetate by acetallike acetylation. Juzunal, another anthraquinone isolated from the same genus, is assumed to be hydroxydamnacanthal. Demnacanthol is assumed to be lucidin α-methyl ether.
Damnidin, another of the anthraquinones isolated, corresponds to C17H16O5, and forms a triacetate. The neutral substance also obtained in the course of the isolation corresponds to C30H52O and forms an acetate.