Isolation and spectral study of 4‐methyl‐6,8‐dihydroxy‐7H‐benz[de]anthracen‐7‐one

4‐Methyl‐6,8‐dihydroxy‐7H‐benzde]anthracen‐7‐one was isolated from the sap of Aloe by column chromatography. Its ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra were completely assigned by utilizing two‐dimensional ¹H‐detected heteronuclear one‐bond (HMQC) and multiple‐bond (HMBC) chemical shift correlation experiments together with ¹H–¹H COSY and DEPT techniques. These techniques were also valuable in assigning the protons and carbons of those benzanthrone compounds which were previously incompletely reported because of the overlap of proton signals. The molecular structure was elucidated by 2D NMR analysis. The spectral properties (MS, IR and UV) are also presented. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.