Acetalanthraquinone derivatives useful for cellular staining

A compound of any one of Formulae (I), (Ib), (Id), (II), (III) or (IV), as defined below:

• wherein n and m are independently selected from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6,
• wherein m is 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5,
• wherein n and m are the same and selected from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6,
• wherein n and m are independently selected from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6,
• wherein n and m are independently selected from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6,
• wherein
• R1 and R2, when present, are each independently selected from —OH or H, or CH3, halo or OR, wherein R is selected from —CH3, —CH2OCH3, —CH(CH3)2, —COCH3, —CH2CH═CH2, benzene and benzyl;
• and either:
• (i) A and B are each independently of formula:
• —RaCH2CH(ORb)2;
• or
• (ii) one of A and B is of formula:
• —RaCH2CH(ORb)2 and the other one is of formula:
• —NRb2;
• wherein
• the or each Ra is independently selected from —CH2—, —C(═O)NH—, —NHC(═O)—, —C(═O)—, —C(═CH2)—, —C(═CHCH3)—, —N(CH3)—, and —N(alkylaryl)- and each Rb is independently selected from —CH3, —CH2CH3, —CH(CH3)2, and —CH2CH═CH2.