Anthracene is a condensed aromatic hydrocarbon containing three rings. The center of the three rings of anthracene is in a straight line, which is the isomer of phenanthrene. The chemical activity of the 9 and 10 positions in the anthracene molecule is relatively high. It is oxidized with nitric acid to generate 9, 10-anthraquinone, which is an important intermediate for the synthesis of anthraquinone dyes. Anthracene can also act as a conjugated diene in a Diels-Alder reaction with maleic anhydride.
Fluorene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon insoluble in water and soluble in many organic solvents. Fluorenes are one of the most important fluorescent molecules with applications in polymers, electronic devices, sensors, and photochromic materials.