alpha-Chloroacteic acid and phenacyl bromide were used as reagents reacting
with 8-hydroxyquinoline to form bridgehead heterocycles. Reaction of these
heterocycles with equi-or bis-molar ratios of 2-(or 4-)methyl substituted
heterocyclic quaternary salts afforded a series of monomethine and bismo-no
methine cyanine dyes. The electronic spectra of the monomethine cyanine dye
s in various solvents are discussed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rig
hts reserved.