Synthesis of ethyl 3-aryl-1-methyl-8-oxo- 8H-anthra[9,1-gh]quinoline-2-carboxylates as dyes for potential application in liquid crystal displays.

[reaction: see text] Two new fluorescent ethyl 3-aryl-1-methyl-8-oxo-8H-anthra[9,1-gh]quinoline-2-carboxylates have been synthesized for the first time by cyclization of 3-(arylidene-amino)-benzo[de]anthracen-7-ones with 3-oxo-butyric acid ethyl ester. The cyclization reaction was investigated with and without concentrated hydrochloric acid as a catalyst. New dyes have shown a very good orientation parameter (S(A)) in nematic liquid crystal, indicating a high potential for application in liquid crystal displays.