Synthesis of a new class of strongly fluorescent heterocyclic compounds: 3H-imidazo[4,5-a]acridine-11-carbonitriles

► A facile method to synthesis of new 3H-imidazo[4,5-a]acridine-11-carbonitriles is presented. ► The spectral and photophysical properties of these new compounds are investigated. ► The fluorescence of all compounds was intense and fluorescence quantum yields were very high for all of them.