Some new 9,10-anthraquinone (rufigallol) derivatives have been prepared and their mesomorphic properties have been studied. The unsymmetrically substituted tetrahydropyranyloxy-ethers (THP-ethers), exhibited columnar mesomorphism at fairly low temperatures and the xray studies carried out for one of the homologues confirmed the hexagonal nature of the mesophase. The deprotected derivatives of these THP-ethers, also form columnar mesophases. All these derivatives are very good candidates for polymerisation studies.