Crotonization in the benzo[a]acridine series. Synthesis of naphtho[2,1-j][1,7]phenanthroline derivatives

8,9,10,11-Tetrahydrobenzo[a]acridin-11-one reacted with aromatic aldehydes to give the corresponding 10-arylmethylidene-8,9,10,11-tetrahydrobenzo[a]acridin-11-ones. Reactions of the latter with malononitrile in the presence of a base catalyst led to the formation of polynuclear partially hydrogenated systems, 2-alkoxy-4-aryl-5,6-dihydronaphtho[2,1-j][1,7]phenanthroline-3-carbonitriles, whose absorption and luminescence spectra in solution and polycrystalline state were studied.