Abstract: The invention provides novel anthracene compounds useful in the treatment of allergic, inflammatory, and tumor conditions and therapeutic compositions containing such compounds or their pharmaceutically acceptable salts. The compounds of the invention are novel 1,8-dichloro-anthracene derivatives or analogs thereof. According to the practice of the invention, there are provided 9-substituted 1,8-dichloro-anthracene compounds of the Formula III: wherein R represents a straight or branched chain alkyl group having 1-6 carbons and may be substituted with one or more of the groups R1, wherein R1 represents the groups selected from COOH or an ester alky thereof having 1 to 4 carbons, —OH, halogen, NO2, CH3O, CH3CH2O, phenyl and CH3CH2CH2O.