PURPOSE: To produce an anthracene derivative under mild conditions with facilitated post-treatment by placing the corresponding anthraquinone derivative under conditions of catalytic hydrogenation and adding an acylating agent or a tri-substituted silylating agent and a neutralizing agent thereto.

CONSTITUTION: The corresponding anthraquinone derivative (e.g. anthraquinone) is placed under conditions of catalytic hydrogenation (i.e. under conditions of hydrogen atmosphere coexisting with a hydrogenating catalyst) and an acylating agent (e.g. acetic anhydride) or a tri-substituted silylating agent (e.g. trimethylsilyl chloride) and a neutralizing agent (e.g. triethylamine) are added thereto. Thereby, the objective anthracene derivative (e.g. 9,10- diacetoxyanthracene) expressed by the formula (R is halogen, alkyl, aralkyl, aryl, acyloxy, tri-substituted silyloxy, alkoxy, aryloxy, etc.; R may be present at the l- to 8-positions; n is 0-8; X is acyloxy or tri-substituted silyloxy) is obtained.