A new extension for the 'one pot' construction of diverse 1-azafluorene derivatives featuring a Diels-Alder/retro-Diels-Alder cycloaddition is reported. Conditions were also determined for oxidation to the derived azafluorenones. The spectrophotometric analysis of five different azafluorenones were performed. Moderate fluorescence was observed with azafluorenone derivatives that bear an imbedded pyridone motif; whereas those bearing substituted pyridines do not fluoresce.
Keywords: azafluorenone; fluorescence; synthesis.