Claims
        
                - 1. Ethers having the formula ##STR2## wherein R.sub.1 is a lower alkyl of 1-5 carbon atoms; phenyl- or substituted phenyl-lower alkyl wherein the substituent groups are lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, each containing 1-5 carbon atoms, or halo; and lower alkyl contains 1-5 carbon atoms.
 
                - 2. Ethers of claim 1 wherein R.sub.1 is lower alkyl of 1- 5 carbon atoms or phenyl-lower alkyl containing 1-5 carbon atoms in the alkyl moiety.
 
                - 3. Ethers of claim 1 wherein R.sub.1 is methyl or benzyl.
 
                - 4. Process for the preparation of a compound of claim 1 which comprises oxidizing a derivative of 1,4,5,8-hydroxy anthraquinone of the formula ##STR3## wherein R.sub.1 has the same definition as in claim 1 R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are hydrogen, lower alkyl, phenyl-lower alkyl, substituted phenyl-lower alkyl wherein the substituents are lower alkyl, lower alkoxy or halo, wherein the moiety lower alk contains 1-5 carbon atoms and R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 may be the same or different.
 
                - 5. A process of claim 4 wherein R.sub.1 = R.sub.2 = R.sub.3.
 
                - 6. A process of claim 5 wherein R.sub.1 = R.sub.2 = R.sub.3 = lower alkyl.
 
                - 7. A process of claim 4 wherein R.sub.1 = R.sub.2 = R.sub.3 = methyl and the oxidizing agent is argentic oxide in the presence of an acid.
 
                - 8. A process of claim 4 wherein the oxidizing agent is argentic oxide in the presence of nitric acid.
 
                - 9. A compound of the formula ##STR4## wherein R.sub.7 is lower alkyl of 1-5 carbon atoms or hydrogen, R.sub.9 is R.sub.1, R.sub.1 O, or hydrogen, where when R.sub.7 is lower alkyl R.sub.9 is hydrogen and when R.sub.9 is R.sub.1 or R.sub.1 O, R.sub.7 is hydrogen, R.sub.8 is selected from a group consisting of the same moieties as R.sub.1, wherein R.sub.1 is as defined in claim 1.
 
                - 10. A compound of claim 9 wherein R.sub.8 = lower alkyl.
 
                - 11. A compound of claim 9 where R.sub.7 is methyl or hydrogen R.sub.8 is methyl, phenyl or hydrogen and R.sub.9 is methyl, methoxy, or hydrogen.
 
                - 12. The process of preparing a compound of claim 9 which comprises subjecting a compound of the formula ##STR5## to a Diels-Alder condensation with a compound of the formula ##STR6## wherein R.sub.7, R.sub.8 and R.sub.9 are as defined in claim 9.
 
                - 13. A compound of the formula ##STR7## wherein R.sub.7 and R.sub.9 are as defined in claim 9.
 
                - 14. A compound of claim 13 wherein R.sub.7 is methyl or hydrogen and R.sub.9 is methyl, methoxy or hydrogen.
 
                - 15. A compound having the formula ##STR8## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.7 and R.sub.9 are as defined in claim 9.
 
                - 16. A compound of claim 15 wherein R.sub.7 is lower alkyl or hydrogen and R.sub.9 is lower alkoxy or hydrogen.
 
                - 17. A compound of claim 16 wherein R.sub.7 is methyl or hydrogen and R.sub.9 is methyl, methoxy or hydrogen.
 
                - 18. A process of preparing a compound of claim 15 which comprises reacting a compound of the formula ##STR9## wherein R.sub.7 and R.sub.9 are as defined in claim 15 with an ethynylating agent.
 
                - 19. A process of claim 18 wherein the ethynylating agent is M.C .tbd. CH or CH .tbd. C.MgX where M is an alkali or alkaline earth metal and X is C1, Br or I.
 
                - 20. A process of claim 19 wherein R.sub.7 is methyl or hydrogen, R.sub.9 is methoxy or hydrogen and the ethynylating agent is CH .tbd. C.MgBr.
 
                - 21. A process of preparing a compound of the formula ##STR10## wherein R.sub.7 and R.sub.9 are defined in claim 15 which comprises reacting a compound of claim 15 with hydrating agent.
 
                - 22. A process of claim 21 wherein the hydrating agent is mercuric ion.
 
                - 23. A process of claim 21 where R.sub.1 is other than hydrogen, the hydrating agent is a sequence of a mercuric lower alkanoate in the presence of a lower alkyl alkanoate, hydrogen sulphide, aqueous alkali metal hydroxide in a lower alkanol and aqueous mineral acid, wherein lower alkyl, lower alkanoate and lower alkanol each contain 1-5 carbon atoms.
 
                - 24. A process of claim 21 where R.sub.1 is hydrogen, the hydrating agent is a sequence of a mercuric lower alkanoate in the presence of a lower alkyl alkanoate, and hydrogen sulphide, wherein lower alkyl and lower alkanoate each contain 1-5 carbon atoms.
 
                - 25. A compound of the formula ##STR11## wherein R.sub.7 and R.sub.9 are as defined in claim 9.
 
                - 26. A compound of claim 25 where R.sub.7 = R.sub.9 = hydrogen.
 
                - 27. A compound of claim 25 where R.sub.7 = lower alkyl, R.sub.9 = hydrogen.
 
                - 28. A compound of claim 27 where R.sub.7 = methyl.
 
                - 29. A compound of claim 25 where R.sub.7 = hydrogen and R.sub.9 = lower alkoxy.
 
                - 30. A compound of claim 25 where R.sub.9 = methoxy.
 
                - 31. A compound of claim 25 where R.sub.7 is hydrogen and R.sub.9 is lower alkyl.
 
                - 32. A compound of claim 25 where R.sub.9 is methyl.
 
                - 33. The process which comprises reacting a compound of claim 25 with a free radical source of bromine in the presence of means for reducing the concentration of the hydrobromic acid produced in the course of the reaction, and replacing the bromine thus introduced with hydroxyl by hydrolyzing with a hydrolyzing agent to yield a mixture of the formula ##STR12## wherein R.sub.7 and R.sub.9 are as defined in claim 25.
 
                - 34. A process of claim 33 wherein the hydrolyzing agent is selected from the group consisting of water, mild base, alumina, and silica gel.
 
                - 35. A process of claim 33 wherein the hydrolyzing agent comprises the sequential treatment of an ester or silver salt of an alkanoic or halo alkanoic acid and a base.
 
        
                
                        RELATED APPLICATIONS
        This application is a continuation in part of our co-pending application Ser. No. 632,939 filed Nov. 18, 1975.
                        Government Interests
        The invention described herein was made in the course of work under a grant or award from the Department of Health, Education and Welfare.
                
                
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                        Continuation in Parts (1)
        
            
                
                     | 
                    Number | 
                    Date | 
                    Country | 
                
            
            
    
        | Parent | 
            632939 | 
        Nov 1975 | 
         |