The mol-ecule of the title compound, C(30)H(42), occupies a special position on an inversion center. The four butyl side chains have all-trans planar conformations, and the alkyl planes are nearly orthogonal to the anthracene plane [C-C-C-C torsion angles of 79.6 (2) and 78.2 (2)°]. The overall mol-ecule has a stair-like shape with the n-butyl groups at the 1 and 8 positions extending towards the same side of the anthracene plane. In the crystal structure, mol-ecules adopt a slipped-parallel arrangement without π-π stacking.