Crown ether-derivatised pervlenes The present invention relates to perylenes of formula I wherein R1 is unsubstituted quinolyl, anthrolinyl or phenanthrolinyl or substituted quinolyl, anthrolinyl or phenanthrolinyl, wherein m is an integer from 0 to 4 and n is an integer from 1 to 9, and the radicals R3 to R10 are hydrogen or a radical selected from the group consisting of an unsubstituted or substituted carbocyclic aromatic radical, an unsubstituted or substituted heterocyclic aromatic radical, halogen, unsubstituted or substituted C1-C18alkyl, -OR11, -CN, -NR12R13, -COR14, -NR15COR14, -NR11COOR14, -NR CONR1²R , -NHSO2R14, -SO2R14, -SOR14, -SO2OR14, -CONR12R13, -SO2NR12R13, -N=NR16, -OCOR14 and -OCONHR14, it being possible for two adjacent radicals together to form a carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring, wherein R14 is C1-C18alkyl, or C6-C10aryl, or benzyl that is unsubstituted or substituted by halogen, C1-C4alkyl or by C1-C4alkoxy, or is a 5- to 7-membered heterocyclic radical, R12 and R13 are each independently of the other hydrogen, C1-C18alkyl, 03- to C24-cycloalkyl, C6-C10aryl or 5- to 7-membered heteroaryl, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl are unsubstituted or substituted by cyano or by hydroxy, or R12 and/or R13 together with at least one of the other radicals R3 to R10 form a 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic ring, R11 is hydrogen, C1-C18alkyl, 03- to 024-cycloalkyl, C6-C10aryl or 5- to 7-membered hetero- aryl, R15 is hydrogen, C1-C18alkyl, 03- to C24-cycloalkyl, C1-C4alkylaryl, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl or alkylaryl are either unsubstituted or substituted by cyano, hydroxy or by C1- C4alkoxycarbonyl, C6-C10aryl or a 5- to 7-membered heterocycle which are either unsubstituted or substituted by halogen, C1-C4alkyl or by C1-C4alkoxy, R16 is the radical of a coupling component or is C6-C10aryl that is unsubstituted or substi- tuted by halogen, C1-C4alkyl or by C1-C4alkoxy, and R2 is one of the radicals mentioned under R1 or R3 to R10.

The invention relates also to perylenes II to a process for the preparation of the compounds according to the invention, and to their use.

Crown ethers, that is to say cyclic compounds containing the unit -CH2-CH2-O- or similar structural units, are known for their metal-ion-complexing properties. In particular, in contrast to other complexing agents, the complexing of alkali metal and alkaline earth metal cations using crown ethers is usually very successful. However, there has hitherto been no simple and sensitive means of detecting alkali metal and alkaline earth metal cations using fluorescent properties.

Many organic chromophores have hydrophobic properties on account of their 7e systems.

For uses in the aqueous phase, structural elements such as sulfonic acid groups or charges that bring about an effective increase in hydrophilicity are therefore used. Hydrophobic colourants can, however, also be dispersed in water, and the preparation of corresponding colloidal solutions generally requires special techniques, especially when those colloids are to be stored for a relatively long period of time. Flocculation and sedimentation are problems in this connection, which can be counteracted, for example, by the use of protec- tive colloids. However, the introduction of a further substance into the overall system is a disadvantage (inter alia, cost, diluting effect).

The problem underlying the present invention is, therefore, to make available novel compounds based on crown ethers that serve as detection reagents for alkali metal and alkaline earth metal cations. Furthermore, the novel compounds are to form thermodynami- cally stable colloids that can be used as self-dispersing colourants.

Accordingly, the perylenes I defined at the beginning have been found.

There have also been found the perylenes II, processes for the preparation of the compounds according to the invention and their use, inter alia, as fluorescent complexing agents for metal ions and self-dispersing organic colourants.

According to the invention, R1 is unsubstituted quinolyl, anthrolinyl or phenanthrolinyl or substituted, for example -OH- substituted, quinolyl, anthrolinyl or phenanthrolinyl, wherein m is an integer from 0 to 4, especially 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, preferably 0 or 1, and n is an integer from 1 to 9, such as 1, 2, 3, 4,5,6,7,8,9, preferably3,4or5.

Especially preferred radicals R1 are wherein n is 3, 4 or 5, and According to the invention, the radicals R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R, R9 and R are hydrogen or a radical selected from the group consisting of an unsubstituted or substituted carbocyclic aromatic radical, an unsubstituted or substituted heterocyclic aromatic radical, halogen, unsubstituted or substituted C1-C18alkyl, -OR11, -CN, -NR12R13, ~COR14, NR15CoR14 -NR11COOR14, -NR11CONR12R13, -NHSO2R14, ,S02R14, -SOR14, -SO2OR14, -CONR12R13, -SO2NR12R13, -N=NR16, -OCOR14 and -OCONHR14, it being possible for two adjacent radicals together to form a carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring, wherein R14 is C1-C18alkyl, or Cs-Cloaryl, or benzyl that is unsubstituted or substituted by halogen, C1-C4alkyl or by C1-C4alkoxy, or is a 5- to 7-membered heterocyclic radical, R12 and R13 are each independently of the other hydrogen, C1-C18alkyl, C3- to C24-cycloalkyl, C6-C10aryl or 5- to 7-membered heteroaryl, which are either unsubstituted or substituted by cyano or by hydroxy, or R12 and/or R13 together with one of the other radicals R3 to R10 form a 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic ring, R" is hydrogen, C1-C1Balkyl, C3- to C24-cycloalkyl, C6-C,Oaryl or 5- to 7-membered hetero- aryl, R15 is hydrogen, C1-C18alkyl, C3- to C24-cycloalkyl, C,-C4alkylaryl, which are either unsubstituted or substituted by cyano, hydroxy or by C1-C4alkoxycarbonyl, C6-C,Oaryl or a 5- to 7-membered heterocycle which are either unsubstituted or substituted by halogen, C1- C4alkyl or by C1-C4alkoxy, and R16 is the radical of a coupling component or is C6-C10aryl that is unsubstituted or substituted by halogen, C1-C4alkyl or by C1-C4alkoxy.

As unsubstituted or substituted carbocyclic aromatic radical there may be selected prefer- ably mono- to tetra-cyclic, especially mono- and bi-cyclic, radicals having from five to seven carbon atoms per ring, such as phenyl, diphenyl and naphthyl.

As unsubstituted or substituted heterocyclic aromatic radical there may be selected prefer- ably a mono- to tri-cyclic radical having preferably from five to seven ring atoms. That radical may consist only of at least one heterocyclic ring or the heterocyclic ring(s) may contain at least one fused-on benzene ring. There may be mentioned by way of example pyridyl, pyrimidyl, pyrazinyl, triazinyl, furanyl, pyrrolyl, thiophenyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, coumarinyl, benzofuranyl, benzimidazolyl, benzoxazolyl, dibenzofuranyl, benzothiophenyl, dibenzothiophenyl, indolyl, carbazolyl, pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, thiazolyl, indazolyl, benzothiazolyl, pyridazinyl, cinnolinyl, quinazolyl, quinoxalyl, phthalazinyl, phthala- zindionyl, phthalimidyl, chromonyl, naphtholactamyl, benzopyridonyl, ortho-sulfobenzimidyl, maleimidyl, naphtharidinyl, benzimidazolonyl, benzoxazolonyl, benzothiazolonyl, benzo- thiazolinyl, quinazolonyl, pyrimidyl, quinoxalonyl, phthalazonyl, dioxapyrinidinyl, pyridonyl, isoquinolonyl, isothiazolyl, benzisoxazolyl, benzisothiazolyl, indazolonyl, acridinyl, acridonyl, quinazolindionyl, benzoxazindionyl, benzoxazinonyl and phthalimidyl.

In a preferred embodiment, the carbocyclic and/or heterocyclic aromatic radicals are mono- or poly-substituted by customary substituents, especially by substitutents that render the compound insoluble in water. There may be mentioned by way of example: halogen, such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine, preferably chlorine; cyano, -CN; unsubstituted or substituted C1-C18alkyl, such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n- butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, tert-amyl, n-hexyl, 1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, n-nonyl, n-decyl, n-undecyl, n-dodecyl, n-octadecyl, 3-pentyl, 4-heptyl, 5-nonyl, 6-undecyl, 7-tridecyl, 3-hexyl, 3-heptyl, 3-nonyl, 3-undecyl, preferably C1-C12alkyl, such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, tert-amyl, n-hexyl, n- heptyl, n-octyl, n-nonyl, n-decyl, n-undecyl, n-dodecyl, 3-pentyl, 4-heptyl, 5-nonyl, 6- undecyl, 7-tridecyl, 3-hexyl, 3-heptyl, 3-nonyl, 3-undecyl, especially C1-C8alkyl, such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, tert-amyl, n- hexyl, 1,1 3,3-tetramethylbutyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, 3-pentyl, 4-heptyl, 3-hexyl, 3-heptyl, more especially C1-C4alkyl, such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl; it being possible for the mentioned alkyl groups to be substituted by the following radicals, which generally do not increase hydrophilicity, such as fluorine, cyano, -OCOR'4, -OR'2, -OCOOR14, -CON(R12)(R13) or-OCONHR14 wherein R'4 is C1-C18alkyl, such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-amyl, n-hexyl, 1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, n-nonyl, n- decyl, n-undecyl, n-dodecyl, n-octadecyl, 3-pentyl, 4-heptyl, 5-nonyl, 6-undecyl, 7- tridecyl, 3-hexyl, 3-heptyl, 3-nonyl, 3-undecyl, preferably C1-C12alkyl, such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, tert-amyl, n-hexyl, n-heptyl, n- octyl, n-nonyl, n-decyl, n-undecyl, n-dodecyl, 3-pentyl, 4-heptyl, 5-nonyl, 6-undecyl, 7- tridecyl, 3-hexyl, 3-heptyl, 3-nonyl, 3-undecyl; C6-C10aryl that is unsubstituted or substituted by halogen, such as chlorine or fluorine, C1-C4alkyl or by -O-C1-C4alkyl, such as phenyl, o-, m- or p-chlorophenyl, o-, m- or p-methylphenyl, 2,5-di-tert-butyl- phenyl, 1- or 2-naphthyl, preferably phenyl, 1-, 2-naphthyl; or benzyl that is unsubsti- tuted or substituted by halogen, such as chlorine and fluorine, preferably fluorine, C1-C4alkyl or by -O-C1-C4alkyl; or a 5- to 7-membered heterocyclic radical, such as pyridyl, pyrimidyl, pyrazinyl, triazinyl, furanyl, pyrrolyl, thiophenyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, coumarinyl, and R12 and R13 are hydrogen, C1-C18alkyl that is unsubstituted or substituted by cyano or by hydroxy, preferably C1-C12alkyl, especially C1-C8alkyl, more especially C1-C4alkyl, 03- to 024-cycloalkyl, preferably C5-, C6-, C12-, C15-, C16-, 020- and C24-cycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl, preferably derived fr.om the above-mentioned carbocyclic and hetero- cyclic aromatic radicals, especially phenyl that is unsubstituted or substituted by halogen, C1-C4alkyl or by C1-C4alkoxy, or R12 and/or R13 together with at least one of the other radicals R3 to R10 form a 5- or 6-membered hetero ring, for example a pyridine, pyrrole, furan or pyran ring; preferred radicals -OR12 are hydroxy, -O-methyl, -O-ethyl, -O-isopropyl-, -O-isobutyl, -O-phenyl, -O-2,5-di-tert-butylphenyl; preferred radicals -CON(R12)(R13) are -CON H2, -CONMe2, -CONEt2, -CON(iPr)2, -CON(iBu)2, -CONPh2, -CON(2,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)2.

In a further preferred embodiment there are used as substituents on the alkyl groups mono- or di-alkylated amino, aryl radicals, such as naphthyl or, especially, phenyl that is unsubstituted or substituted by halogen, alkyl or by -O-alkyl, or heterocyclic aromatic radicals, such as 2-thienyl, 2-benzoxazolyl, 2-benzothiazolyl, 2-benz- imidazolyl, 6-benzimidazolonyl, 2-, 3- or 4-pyridinyl, 2-, 4- or 6-quinolyl or 1-, 3-, 4-, 6- or 8-isoquinolyl radicals.

If the mentioned substituents themselves contain alkyl, then that alkyl may be branched or unbranched and may contain preferably from 1 to 18, especially from 1 to 12, more especially from 1 to 8 and very especially from 1 to 4, carbon atoms.

Examples of unsubstituted alkyl are methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec- butyl, tert-butyl, tert-amyl, n-hexyl, 1,1 ,3,3-tetramethylbutyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, n-nonyl, n-decyl, n-undecyl, n-dodecyl, n-octadecyl, 3-pentyl, 4-heptyl, 5-nonyl, 6-undecyl, 7- tridecyl, 3-hexyl, 3-heptyl, 3-nonyl, 3-undecyl. Examples of substituted alkyl are hydroxymethyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, trifluoromethyl, trifluoroethyl, cyanomethyl, methoxy- carbonylmethyl, acetoxymethyl and benzyl.

-OR11, wherein R11 is hydrogen, C1-C18alkyl as already defined for R14, including the preferred variants mentioned therefor, 03- to C24-cycloalkyl, preferably C5-, Oe-, C12-, C15-, 016-, 020 and C24-cycloalkyl, CG-Cloaryl, such as naphthyl and phenyl, preferably unsubstituted phenyl and phenyl that is substituted by halogen, C1-C4alkyl or by C1-C4- alkoxy, or 5- to 7-membered heteroaryl. There may be mentioned as examples of preferred radicals for R11: methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, tert-amyl, n-hexyl, 1,1 ,3,3-tetramethylbutyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, n-nonyl, n-decyl, n-undecyl, n-dodecyl, n-octadecyl, 3-pentyl, 4-heptyl, 5-nonyl, 6-undecyl, 7-tridecyl, 3-hexyl, 3- heptyl, 3-nonyl, 3-undecyl, hydroxymethyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, trifluoromethyl, trifluoroethyl, cyanomethyl, methoxycarbonylmethyl, acetoxymethyl, benzyl, phenyl, o-, m- or p- chlorophenyl, o-, m- or p-methylphenyl, 1- or 2-naphthyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cyclododecyl, cyclopentadecyl, cyclohexadecyl, cycloeicosanyl, cyclotetracosanyl, thienyl and pyranylmethyl; preferred radicals -OR1' are hydroxy, methoxy, -O-ethyl, -O-isopropyl, -O-isobutyl, -O-phenyl and -0-2,5-di-tert-butylphenyl; -NR12R'3, there may be mentioned as examples of preferred radicals: amino, methyl- amino, dimethylamino, ethylamino, diethylamino, isopropylamino, 2-hydroxyethylamino, 2-hydroxypropylamino, N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino, cyclopentylamino, cyclohexyl- amino, cyclododecylamino, cyclopentadecylamino, cyclohexadecylamino, cycio- eicosanylamino, cyclotetracosanylamino, phenylamino, N-methylphenylamino, benzyl- amino, dibenzylamino, piperidyl and morpholyl; -CoR14, there may be mentioned as examples of preferred radicals R14: methyl, ethyl, n- propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, tert-amyl, n-hexyl, 1,1 ,3,3-tetramethyl- butyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, n-nonyl, n-decyl, n-undecyl, n-dodecyl, n-octadecyl, 3-pentyl (corresponds to 1 -ethyl-n-propyl), 4-heptyl (corresponds to 1 -n-propyl-1 -n-butyl), 5-nonyl (or: 1-n-butyl-n-pentyl), 6-undecyl (or: 1-n-pentyl-n-hexyl), 7-tridecyl (corresponds to 1- hexylheptyl), 3-hexyl (or: 1-ethyl-n-butyl), 3-heptyl (or: 1-ethyl-n-pentyl), 3-nonyl (or: 1- ethyl-n-heptyl), 3-undecyl (or: 1 -ethyl-n-nonyl), hydroxymethyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, trifluoro- methyl, trifluoroethyl, cyanomethyl, methoxycarbonylmethyl, acetoxymethyl, benzyl, phenyl, o-, m- or p-chlorophenyl, o-, m- or p-methylphenyl, 1- or 2-naphthyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cyclododecyl, cyclopentadecyl, cyclohexadecyl, cycloeicosanyl, cyclotetra- cosanyl, thienyl, pyranylmethyl and furfuryl; -NR150OR14, wherein R15 is hydrogen, C1-C18alkyl that is unsubstituted or substituted by cyano, hydroxy or by C1-C4alkoxycarbonyl, 03- to 024-cycloalkyl, C1-C4alkylaryl, 06- Ctoaryl that is unsubstituted or substituted by halogen, C1-C4alkyl or by C1-C4alkoxy, or a 5- to 7-membered heterocycle, the individual radicals, such as alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, etc., having the meanings defined above for those radicals, including the preferred meanings given therefor. There may be mentioned as examples of radicals: acetylamino, propionylamino, butyrylamino, benzoylamino, p-chlorobenzoylamino, p- methylbenzoylamino, N-methylacetamino, N-methylbenzoylamino, N-succinimido, N- phthalimido and N-(4-amino)phthalimido; NR11COOR14, there may be mentioned as examples of radicals: -NHCOOCH3, -NHCOOC2H5 and -NHCOOC6H5; -NR11CoNR12R13, there may be mentioned as examples of radicals: ureido, N- methylureido, N-phenylureido and N-(2',4'-dimethyl)phenylureido; -NHS02R14, there may be mentioned as examples of radicals: methylsulfonylamino, phenylsulfonylamino, p-tolylsulfonylamino and 2-naphthylsulfonylamino; -So2R14, there may be mentioned as examples of radicals: methylsulfonyl, ethylsulfonyl, phenylsulfonyl and 2-naphthylsulfonyl; -SOR14, phenylsulfoxidyl and methylsulfoxidyl may be mentioned as examples of radicals; -So20R14, there may be mentioned as examples of radicals R14: methyl, ethyl, phenyl, o-, m- or p-chlorophenyl, o-, m- or p-methylphenyl, 1- or 2-naphthyl; -CoNR12R13, there may be mentioned as examples of radicals: carbamoyl, N-methyl- carbamoyl, N-ethylcarbamoyl, N-phenylcarbamoyl, N, Ndimethylcarbamoyl, N-methyl-N- phenylcarbamoyl, N-1-naphthylcarbamoyl and N-piperidylcarbamoyl; -S02NR12R13, there may be mentioned as examples of radicals: sulfamoyl, N-methyl- sulfamoyl, N-ethylsulfamoyl, N-phenylsulfamoyl, N-methyl-N-phenylsulfamoyl and N- morpholylsulfamoyl; -N=NR16, wherein R16 is the radical of a coupling component or is a phenyl radical that is unsubstituted or substituted by halogen, alkyl or by -O-alkyl, with halogen and alkyl being as defined above. Alkyl in the definitions of R16 can have a number of carbon atoms mentioned above as being preferred. There may be mentioned as examples of R'6: the acetoacetarylide, pyrazolyl, pyridonyl, o-, p-hydroxyphenyl, o-hydroxynaphthyl, p-aminophenyl and p-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl radicals.

-OCOR14, there may be mentioned as examples of preferred radicals R14: methyl, ethyl, phenyl, o-, m- or p-chlorophenyl; -OCONHR14, there may be mentioned as examples of preferred radicals R14: methyl, ethyl, phenyl, o-, m- or p-chlorophenyl.

There may be used as halogen fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine, preferably fluorine or chlorine.

There may be used as unsubstituted or substituted C1-C18alkyl methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, tert-amyl, n-hexyl, 1,1 ,3,3-tetramethylbutyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, n-nonyl, n-decyl, n-undecyl, n-dodecyl, n-octadecyl, 3-pentyl, 4-heptyl, 5- nonyl, 6-undecyl, 7-tridecyl, 3-hexyl, 3-heptyl, 3-nonyl, 3-undecyl, preferably C1-C12alkyl, such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, tert-amyl, n-hexyl, n- heptyl, n-octyl, n-nonyl, n-decyl, n-undecyl, n-dodecyl, 3-pentyl, 4-heptyl, 5-nonyl, 6- undecyl, 7-tridecyl, 3-hexyl, 3-heptyl, 3-nonyl, 3-undecyl, especially C1-C8alkyl, such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, tert-amyl, n-hexy!, 1,1 ,3,3-tetramethylbutyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, 3-pentyl, 4-heptyl, 3-hexyl, 3-heptyl, more espe- cially C1-C4alkyl, such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert- butyl; it being possible for the mentioned alkyl groups to be substituted by the following radicals, which generally do not increase hydrophilicity, such as fluorine, hydroxy, cyano, -OGOR14, -OR12, -OCOOR14, -CON(R12)(R13) or -OCONHR14.

In a further preferred embodiment there are used as substituents on the alkyl mono- or di-alkylated amino, aryl radicals, such as naphthyl or, especially, phenyl that is unsubstituted or substituted by halogen, alkyl or by -O-alkyl, or heterocyclic aromatic radicals, such as 2-thienyl, 2-benzoxazolyl, 2-benzothiazolyl, 2-benzimidazolyl, 6- benzimidazolonyl, 2-, 3- or 4-pyridinyl, 2-, 4- or 6-quinolyl or 1-, 3-, 4-, 6- or 8- isoquinolyl radicals.

If the mentioned substituents themselves contain alkyl, then that alkyl may be branched or unbranched and may contain preferably from 1 to 18, especially from 1 to 12, more especially from 1 to 8 and very especially from 1 to 4, carbon atoms.

Examples of unsubstituted alkyl are methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec- butyl, tert-butyl, tert-amyl, n-hexyl, 1,1 ,3,3-tetramethylbutyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, n-nonyl, n-decyl, n-undecyl, n-dodecyl, n-octadecyl, 3-pentyl, 4-heptyl, 5-nonyl, 6-undecyl, 7- tridecyl, 3-hexyl, 3-heptyl, 3-nonyl, 3-undecyl. Examples of substituted alkyl are hydroxymethyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, trifluoromethyl, trifluoroethyl, cyanomethyl, methoxy- carbonylmethyl, acetoxymethyl and benzyl.

The radical -OR11 has already been defined above.

There may be used for -NR12R13 especially the following radicals: amino, methylamino, dimethylamino, ethylamino, diethylamino, isopropylamino, 2-hydroxyethylamino, 2-hydroxy- propylamino, N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino, cyclopentylamino, cyclohexylamino, cyclo- dodecylamino, cyclopentadecylamino, cyclohexadecylamino, cycloeicosanylamino, cyclo- tetracosanylamino, phenylamino, N-methylphenylamino, benzylamino, dibenzylamino, piperidyl or morpholyl, special preference being given to dimethylamino, diethylamino, di-n- propylamino, di-n-butylamino, di-n-pentylamino, di-n-hexylamino, di-n-heptylamino, di-n- octylamino, di-n-dodecylamino.

R12 and/or R13, i.e. alone or, where appropriate, together with in each case at least one of the other radicals from the group R3, R4, R5, R6, R71 R8, R9 and R10, may form one or more 5- or 6-membered, saturated or unsaturated rings, such as pyridine, pyrrole, piperidine, quinoline or benzoquinolizine derivatives.

The radicals-COR14, -NR15CoR14 -NR11COOR14 -NR"CoNR12R13, -NHSo2R14 -S02R14 -SOR14, -S020R14, -CoNR12R13, -S02NR12R13, -N=NR16, -OCOR14 and -OOONHR14 have already been defined above.

According to the invention, the radical R2 is one of the radicals mentioned under1 or R3 to R10, preferably a radical defined under R1, especially R1, or a C1-C18alkyl radical defined under R14, especially a secondary alkyl radical, such as 1-(C1-Cgalkyl)-C2-C10alkyl.

Especially preferred perylenes I are those wherein R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9 and R10 are hydrogen, R2is a secondary alkyl radical, such as 1 -(C1-Cgalkyl)-C2-Cloalkyl, especially those wherein the radical R2 has a "swallow-tail" structure, such as 1-methyl-ethyl, 1-ethyl- n-propyl, 1 -n-propyl-n-butyl, 1-n-butyl-n-pentyl, 1 -n-hexyl-1 -heptyl, 1 -n-heptyl-1 -n-octyl, 1-n- octyl-1-n-nonyl, 1-n-nonyl-1-decyl, or an aromatic radical, especially the phenyl radical, more especially C1-C6alkyl-substituted phenyl, such as 2,6-di-tert-butylphenyl and 2,5-di- tert-butylphenyl.

Other preferred perylenes I are those wherein R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9 and R10 are hydrogen, and R2 and R1 are identical meaning wherein n is preferably 3, 4 or 5.

Other preferred perylenes I are those wherein R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9 and R10 are hydrogen, and R2 and R1 are identical meaning wherein n is preferably 3, 4 or 5.

The following compounds may be mentioned as examples of especially preferred perylenes I: N-(1 -hexyl-heptyl)-N'-(5-(8-benzyloxyquinolin)-yl)-perylene-3,4: 9, 1 0-bis- (dicarboximide), N-(1 -nonyl-decyl)-N'-(5-(8-benzyloxyquinolin)yl)-perylene-3,4:9, 1 0-bis- (dicarboximide), N-(1 -hexyl-heptyl)-N'-(5-(8-benzyloxyquinolin)yl)-perylene-3,4:9 , 1 0-bis- (dicarboximide), N-(1 -hexyl-heptyl)-N'-(5-(1 , 1 O-phenanthrolin)-yl)-perylene-3,4:9, 1 0-bis- (dicarboximide), N-(1 -hexyl-heptyl)-N'-(4'-benzo-1 5-crown-5)-perylene-3,4:9, 1 0-bis (dicarboximide), N-(1 -hexyl-heptyl)-N'-(4'-benzo-1 8-crown-6)-perylene-3,4:9, 1 0-bis (dicarboximide), N, N'-bis(4'-benzo-1 5-crown-5)-perylene-3,4:9, 1 0-bis(dicarboximide), N-( 1- hexyl-heptyl)-N'-(2-methylene-1 2-crown-4)-perylene-3,4:9,1 0-bis(dicarboximide), N-(1 - hexyl-heptyl)-N'-(2-methylene-1 5-crown-5)-perylene-3,4:9,1 0-bis(dicarboximide), N-(1 - hexyl-heptyl)-N'-(2-methylene-1 8-crown-6)-perylene-3,4:9, 1 0-bis(dicarboximide), bis-N,N'- (2-methylene-1 2-crown-4)-perylene-3,4:9,1 0-bis(dicarboximide), bis-N ,N'-(2-methylene-1 5- crown-5)-perylene-3,4:9, 1 0-bis(dicarboximide), bis-N,N'-(2-methylene-1 8-crown-6)- perylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide) and the condensation product of 4',5'-diaminobenzo- 15-crown-5 with N-(1 -nonyl-decyl)-perylene-3,4:9,1 0-tetracarboxylic acid 3,4-anhydride 9,1 0-imide.

The perylenes I according to the invention are preferably obtained by reacting the corres- ponding perylene anhydrides with the appropriate primary amines in a manner known per se.

To that end it is possible to react on the one hand an unsubstituted or substituted perylene- 3,4:9,10-tetracarboxylic acid bisanhydride with an appropriate primary amine, such as a crown ether substituted by an amino group or an appropriately amino-substituted quinolyl, anthrolinyl or phenanthrolinyl radical such as it being possible for the quinolyl, anthrolinyl or phenanthrolinyl radicals in turn to be substituted.

However, it is also possible to use as starting material a substituted or unsubstituted perylene-3,4:9,10-tetracarboxylic acid monoanhydride monoimide, preferably one in which the imide nitrogen atom is substituted by R2, R2 being especially a secondary alkyl radical having a swallow-tail structure, and to react that perylene anhydride imide with the primary amines mentioned above.

Accordingly, the present invention relates also to a process for the preparation of perylenes I by reacting a perylene bisanhydride or a perylene anhydride imide with a primary amine at elevated temperature, in which process there is used as the primary amine a crown ether, substituted by an amino group, of the general formula Ill or IV or a phenanthrolinyl radical of e.g. formula V, an anthrolinyl radical of e.g. formula VI or a quinolyl radical of e.g. formula VII each of which is substituted by an amino group, it being possible for the radicals of formulae V to Vll to contain further substituents, if desired.

Perylene-3,4:9, 1 0-tetracarboxylic acid bisanhydrides and perylene-3,4:9, 1 0-tetracarboxylic acid monoanhydride monoimides are known or can be prepared according to known methods. For example, the perylene anhydride imides can be obtained by (a) reacting a perylene bisanhydride with a primary amine, preferably R2-NH2, or (b) in a first step reacting a perylene bisanhydride with a primary amine, such as R2-NH2, to form a perylene bisimide, which is then, in a second step, subjected to hydrolysis, prefer- ably alkaline hydrolysis, to form the corresponding perylene anhydride imide.

Some perylene anhydride imides and their preparation are described, for example, in Them. Ber. 124 (1991) 529.

The crown ethers substituted by an amino group or the quinolyl, anthrolinyl or phenanthrolinyl radicals, each substituted by an amino group, are likewise known or are obtainable according to known methods from, for example, the corresponding nitro compounds in accordance with customary syntheses (see experimental section), so that further details are unnecessary.

The reaction is preferably carried out at reaction temperatures in a range of from 80 to 200"C, especially from 120 to 18000. Previous observations have shown that the success of the reaction is not dependent on the choice of pressure range. For the sake of simplicity, the reaction is usually carried out under atmospheric pressure, although lower pressures of up to 10 kPa or pressures up to 10 MPa may be chosen. Depending on the chosen reaction temperature, the reaction times are preferably chosen in the range of from 30 minutes to 6 hours.

In a further preferred embodiment, the reaction is carried out in the presence of a basic organic solvent, preferably a nitrogen-containing heterocycle, such as imidazole, quinoline, pyridine, picoline or N-methylpyrrolidone, especially imidazole or quinoline. The reaction may also be carried out in a glycol, such as ethylene glycol or diethylene glycol. The amount of solvent is generally chosen in the range of from 0.1 to 1 mol per 1 kg of solvent, preferably from 0.1 to 0.8 mol per kg of solvent.

In an especially preferred embodiment, the reaction is carried out in melted imidazole at a temperature in the range of from 100 to 17000. In a further preferred embodiment, the reaction is carried out under a protecting gas atmosphere. Preferred protecting gases are, for example, nitrogen and the noble gases, such as helium or argon.

The primary amines are generally used in a molar ratio of from 1:1 to 5:1, preferably in a slight excess, especially from 1.05:1 to 1.4:1 (amine:anhydride groups in the perylene used), i.e. starting from a perylene bisanhydride, there is generally used twice the amount of primary amine in comparison with a perylene anhydride imide.

Furthermore, it may be advantageous to carry out the reaction in the presence of heavy metal salts, such as zinc, lead, calcium,-copper, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, tin, silver or magnesium salts, such as the chlorides, sulfates, nitrates or acetates, especially water- soluble zinc salts, such as zinc acetate and zinc chloride. The molar ratio of perylene anhydride imide to heavy metal salt is usually chosen in the range of from 10:1 to 1:10, preferably from 4:1 to 1:4.

The perylenes I according to the invention can be purified and isolated by customary methods, such as chromatography, especially column chromatography, or extractive recrystallisation.

The perylenes II according to the invention are preferably obtained analogously to the perylenes mentioned above, by reacting a corresponding perylene anhydride imide with a 4',5'-diaminobenzo-crown ether of formula VIII wherein n is preferably 3, 4 or 5.

The corresponding crown ethers are known or are obtainable according to known methods, for example from the corresponding 4'-amino-5'-nitrobenzo-crown ethers (for example, 4'- amino-5'-nitrobenzo-1 5-crown-5 is commercially available) in a manner known per se.

In contrast to the preparation of the perylenes I, it may be advantageous to choose a slightly higher reaction temperature, for example in the range of from 130 to 220°C, prefer- ably from 140 to 200°C.

A further preferred embodiment of the present invention relates to the use of the perylenes I and Il according to the invention, preferably those wherein R' is R2 is a 1 -(C1-Cgalkyl)-C2-Cloalkyl radical and R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9 and R10 are hydrogen, as detection reagents for heavy metal ions, especially of iron, chromium, nickel, cobalt and copper, especially Fe3+ and Cr3+, with the exception of manganese. Previous investigations have shown that the complexing of the above-mentioned heavy metal ions, with the exception of manganese, leads to quenching of fluorescence (which can be recognised, for example, in a Stern-Vollmer plot). Using corresponding calibration curves, it is thus possible to detect the mentioned ions quantitatively, manganese generally not interfering with the detection.

A further preferred embodiment of the present invention relates to the use of the perylenes I according to the invention wherein R1 or R1 and R2 are or contain a benzo-crown ether (in the latter case, m > 0) as detection reagents for alkali metal and alkaline earth metal ions. It has been found that the fluorescence of the corresponding benzo-crown ether perylenes according to the inven- tion is quenched by heavy metal ions. The addition of alkali metal or alkaline earth metal ions reverses the quenching, so that the corresponding complexes fluoresce with high quantum yields. By producing calibration curves in a manner known per se it is thus possible to detect alkali metal and alkaline earth metal ions quantitatively.

A further embodiment therefore relates also to complexes of the perylenes I and II with heavy metals, such as iron, chromium, nickel, cobalt, copper, titanium, zirconium, hafnium and manganese, and alkali metals, such as sodium and potassium, and alkaline earth metals, such as calcium, magnesium, strontium and barium.

The corresponding complexes can be obtained in a manner known per se, for example by adding the perylenes I and Il according to the invention to the corresponding heavy metal, alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salts, especially in the form of their nitrates, chlorides, sulfates, hydrogen carbonates or hydrogen phosphates, preferably in the liquid phase, especially in an alcoholic medium, more especially in methanol, ethanol or isopropanol.

Accordingly, a further embodiment relates to a process for the preparation of metal ion complexes of the perylenes I and II according to the invention, by bringing the correspon- ding metal salts, preferably heavy metal, alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salts, if desired in the liquid phase, into contact with the perylenes I or II.

A further embodiment of the present invention relates to the use of the perylenes I and II according to the invention and of their metal ion complexes as colourants, especially as pigments and dyes, according to methods that are generally in each case known per se, preferably (a) for the mass colouration of polymers, it being possible to use as polymers polyvinyl chloride, cellulose acetate, polycarbonates, polyamides, polyurethanes, polyimides, polybenzimidazoles, melamine resins, silicones, poiyesters, polyethers, polystyrene, polymethyl methacrylate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl acetate, polyacrylonitrile, polybutadiene, polychlorobutadiene or polyisoprene, and the copolymers of the mentioned monomers; (b) as vat dyes or mordant dyes, for example for dyeing natural materials and, especially, paper, wood, straw, leather, animal skins or natural fibre materials, such as cotton, wool, silk, jute, sisal, hemp, flax or animal hair (e.g. horsehair) and their conversion products, such as viscose fibres, nitrocellulose or copper rayon (rayon), preferred salts for mordant dyeing being aluminium, chromium and iron salts; (c) in the preparation of paints, lacquers, especially automotive lacquers, coating composi- tions, paper dyes, printing inks, inks, especially for use in ink-jet printers, preferably in homogeneous solution as fluorescent inks, and for drawing and writing purposes, and in electrophotography, for example for dry-copying systems (Xerox process) and laser printers; (d) for security-marking purposes, such as for cheques, cheque cards (credit cards), bank notes, coupons, documents, identity papers and the like, where a special, unmistakable colour impression is to be achieved; (e) as an additive to colourants, such as pigments and dyes, in which a particular shade of colour is to be achieved; especially luminous shades are preferred; (f) for labelling objects for the purpose of mechanically recognising those objects by means of the fluorescence, preference being given to the mechanical recognition of objects for sorting, for example for the recycling of plastics, with alphanumerical printing or bar codes preferably being used; (g) for the frequency conversion of light, for example in order to make longer-wave, visible light from short-wave light, or for frequency doubling or frequency tripling of laser light in non-linear optics; (h) for the production of passive display elements for a wide variety of display, information and labelling purposes, for example passive display elements, road signs and traffic signals, such as traffic lights; (i) as starting material for supraconducting organic materials (via Tc-rc interactions, after doping with, for example1 iodine there is usually obtained an intermediate charge delocalisation); 0) for solids fluorescent labelling; (k) for decorative and artistic purposes; (I) for tracer purposes, for example in biochemistry, medicine, technology and natural science, it being possible to link the colourants according to the invention covalently to substrates or via secondary valences, such as hydrogen bonds or hydrophobic interactions (adsorption); (m) as fluorescent dyes in highly sensitive detection methods (see C. Aubert, J. Fünfschilling, I. Zschokke-Granacher and H. Langhals, Z. Analyt. Them. 1985, 320, 361), especially as fluorescent dyes in scintillators; (n) as dyes or fluorescent dyes in optical light-collecting systems, in fluorescent solar collectors (see H. Langhals, Nachr. Chem. Tech. Lab. 1980, 28, 716), in fluorescence- activated displays (see W. Greubel and G. Baur, Elektronik 1977, 26, 6), in cold light sources for light-induced polymerisation in the preparation of plastics, for materials testing, for example in the manufacture of semiconductor circuitry, for the investigation of micro- structures of integrated semiconductor components, in photoconductors, in photographic processes, in display, illumination or image-converting systems in which excitation is effec- ted by means of electrons, ions or UV radiation, for example in fluorescent displays, Braun tubes or in fluorescent tubes, as part of an integrated semiconductor circuit, which contain dyes as such or in conjunction with other semiconductors, for example in the form of an epitaxy, in chemiluminescent systems, for example in chemiluminescent light rods, in luminescent immunoassays or other luminescent detection methods, as highlighter inks, especially for lending visual prominence to writing and drawings or other graphic products, for identifying signs and other objects where a particular visual colour impression is to be achieved, in dye lasers, preferably as fluorescent dyes for producing laser beams and as Q-switches; (o) as rheology improvers; (p) as colour filters, and (q) as dyes in optical memories as information storage material, in such a manner that at elevated temperatures, generally in the range of from 220 to 260°C, preferably from 240 to 250"C, a change in modification occurs, generally recognisable by a change in colour, for example from green-black to red.

The present invention relates also to mass coloured high molecular weight organic material comprising the perylenes 1, II according to the invention or a metal ion complex thereof. The colouring is generally carried out by methods known per se in accordance with the prior art, so that further details are unnecessary.

Examples Example 1: 5-Amino-8-benzyloxy-quinoline 11.2 g (170.0 mmol) of powdered 85 % potassium hydroxide are introduced, under argon, into 50 ml of DMSO analogously to Them. Ber. 116 (1983) 2394. While cooling with ice, 11.7 g (50.0 mmol) of 5-amino-8-hydroxyquinoline dihydrochioride are added thereto in small portions, the mixture changing colour to black. After stirring for 20 minutes, 7.5 ml (62.5 mmol) of benzyl bromide are added dropwise in the course of 15 minutes. The mixture is poured onto 100 ml of ice/water, whereupon an ochre-coloured precipitate is formed and is filtered off with suction over a D4 frit and washed with ligroin. The crude product is transferred to a filter thimble and extracted for 3 hours with ligroin in a hot extractor. The olive-green solid remaining in the extraction thimble is recrystallised from a small amount of methanol. The methanol phase is then covered with a layer of ligroin. Yield 4.35 g (35 %) of crude product - Yield after extraction and recrystallisation: 1.0 g (8 %). M.p.

188-189"C. - RF (silica gel/toluene) = 0.10. - IR (KBr): v = 3422 cm~' (m), 3305 (m), 3210 (m), 3120 (w), 3080 (w), 2960 (w), 2875 (w), 1641 (m), 1612(m), 1590 (w), 1581 (m), 1510 (s), 1490 (w), 1476 (s), 1467 (s), 1455 (m), 1419 (m), 1375 (s), 1365 (s), 1285 (s), 1252 (m), 1180 (m), 1092 (s), 1040 (m), 980 (m), 920 (m), 828 (m), 783 (m), 736 (m), 700 (m).

UV (DMSO): Xmax(£) = 390 nm (3200). C16H,4N2O (250.3): calc.: C 76.78, H 5.64, N 11.19; found: C 76.00, H 5.64, N 11.34.

Example 2: N-(1 -Hexyl-heptyl)-N'-(5-(8-benzyloxyquinolin)yl)-perylene-3,4:9 , 1 0-bis- (dicarboximide) 1.72 g (3.00 mmol) of N-(1-hexyl-heptyl)-perylene-3,4:9,10-tetracarboxylic acid 3,4- anhydride 9,10-imide (prepared according to the method described in Them. Ber. 124 (1991) 529-535 (preparation of compound 2c mentioned therein)), 1.00 g (4.00 mmol) of 5- amino-8-benzyloxyquinoline, 0.26 g (1.20 mmol) of zinc acetate dihydrate and 8 g of imidazole are stirred for 4 hours at 16000. The reaction is terminated by the addition of 100 ml of ethanol, and the suspension is transferred into 300 ml of 2N hydrochloric acid and stirred for 3 hours. The resulting precipitate is filtered off with suction, washed with water/- methanol and then dried at 12000. Crude product 2.45 g (100 %).

The crude product is purified by chromatography on aluminium oxide (50.4 cm column) using chloroform as eluant. The dye remains firmly adsorbed in the upper third of the column and is then desorbed using the eluant mixture chloroform/1-butanol (40 + 1). The dye fraction is concentrated to dryness by evaporation, taken up in a small amount of chloroform and filtered through a D5 frit. The product is isolated again, pre-dried at 12000 and freed of solvent residues under an oil-pump vacuum at 80"C. Yield 1.21 g (50 %), m.p. 299-300"C. - RF (silica gel/CHCI3 + ethanol (10 + 1 )) = 0.88. - RF (silica gel/CHCI3 + 1-butanol (40 + 1)) = 0.28. - RF (aluminium oxide/CHCI3) = 0.30. - IR (KBr) : v = 2954 cml (m), 2927 (m), 2856 (m), 1708 (s sh), 1698 (s), 1660 (s br.), 1616 (w), 1594 (s), 1579 (m), 1505 (m), 1476 (w), 1432 (w), 1405 (m), 1368 (w), 1343 (s), 1316 (m), 1253 (m br.), 1200 (w), 1176 (w), 1125 (w), 1098 (w), 1015 (w), 960 (w), 855 (w), 811(m), 790 (w), 747 (m).

Fluorescence (CHC13): 4MaX(E) = 540 nm, 578. Diminished fluorescence.

C53H47N305(806.0): calc. C 78.98, H 5.88, N 5.21; found C 78.76, H 6.00, N 5.12.

Example 3: N-(1 -Nonyl-decyl)-N'-(5-(8-benzyloxyquinolin)-yl)-perylene-3,4:9 , 1 0-bis- (dicarboximide) 1.58 g (2.40 mmol) of N-(1-nonyl-decyl)-perylene-3,4:9,10-tetracarboxylic acid 3,4- anhydride 9,10-imide (prepared according to the method described in Chem. Ber. 124 (1991) 529-535 (preparation of compound 2e mentioned therein)), 0.90 g (3.60 mmol) of 5- amino-8-benzyloxyquinoline, 0.18 g (0.80 mmol) of zinc acetate dihydrate and 8 g of imidazole. Reaction time 2.5 hours. Purification: chromatography on aluminium oxide/- chloroform (50.4cm column) and twice on silica geUchloroform/1-butanol (40 + 1). Yield 1.00 g (47 %), m.p. 275-277"C. - RF (silica gel/CHCI3/ethanol (10 + 1)) = 0.84. IR (KBr): v = 2955 cm1 (m), 2926 (s), 2854 (m), 1710 (s sh), 1700 (s br.), 1685 (w), 1660 (s), 1594 (s), 1579 (m), 1506 (m), 1475 (w), 1460 (w), 1457 (w), 1430 (w), 1405 (m), 1368 (w), 1355 (m), 1343 (s), 1316 (m), 1254 (m), 1200 (w), 1177(m), 1140 (w), 1125 (w), 1110(w), 1015 (w), 965 (w), 855 (w), 811 (s), 790 (w), 747 (s). - Fluorescence (CHC13): Xmax(E) = 537 nm, 576.

Diminished fluorescence. - C59H59N305 (890.1): calc. C 79.61, H 6.68, N 4.72; found C 80.05, H 6.68, N 4.73.

Example 4: N-(1 -Hexyl-heptyl)-N'-(5-(8-hydroxyquinolin)-yI)-perylene-3,4:9, 1 0-bis- (dicarboximide) 0.40 g (0.50 mmol) of N-(1 -hexyl-heptyl)-N'-(5-(8-benzyloxyquinolin)-yI)-perylene-3,4: 9,1 0- bis(dicarboximide) (from Example 2) are heated to boiling in 25 ml of glacial acetic acid.

5 ml of hydrogen bromide (48 % in water) are then added thereto, whereupon a colour change to dark-red can be observed. The reaction is monitored by thin-layer chromato- graphy (silica gel/chloroform/glacial acetic acid (10 + 1)). After 15 minutes, starting material can no longer be detected. After 30 minutes, the reaction is terminated by pouring the mixture into 200 ml of bidistilled water, and the mixture is stirred for a further 30 minutes with gentle heating. The resulting precipitate is filtered off, washed with water/methanol and dried for 16 hours at 110"C. The crude product is purified by extractive recrystallisation twice from distilled toluene. Yield 0.07 g (64 %) after the first recrystallisation, yield 0.03 g (27 %) after the second recrystallisation, m.p. > 300"C. - RF (silica gel/CHC13/ethanol (10+1)) = 0.37. - Ref (silica gel/CHCI3/glacial acetic acid (10+1)) = 0.63. - IR (KBr): v = 3439 cm1 (s br.), 2958 (m), 2857 (m), 1708 (s sh), 1698 (s), 1660 (s br.), 1594 (s), 1583 (m), 1505 (m), 1477 (m), 1435 (m), 1404 (m), 1375 (m), 1354 (m sh), 1343 (s), 1272 (m), 1254 (m), 1206 (m), 1176 (m), 1130 (w), 970 (w), 855 (w), 838 (w), 811(s), 795 (w), 747 (m).

- UV (CHC13): Imax (e) = 528 nm (86 400), 491 (53 100), 460 (19 950). - Fluorescence (CHC13): lx(E) = 538 nm, 573. Diminished fluorescence. - C46H41N305 (715.9): calc.

C 77.18, H 5.77, N 5.87; found C 76.83, H 5.70, N 5.86.

Example 5: 5-Amino-1 , 1 0-phenanthroline 1.0 g (4.4 mmol) of 5-nitro-1,10-phenanthroline is heated to 40"C in 15 ml of absolute ethanol with 0.6 ml (12 mmol) of hydrazine hydrate (100 %). The reduction is started by adding a spatula tip of Pd/C, whereupon considerable evolution of nitrogen can immediately be observed. The reaction is maintained for a further 3 hours by the regular addition of catalyst. The mixture is then heated to reflux in order to concentrate excess hydrazine hydrate. After cooling, the catalyst is filtered off, the solvent is removed in vacuo and the crude product is dried for one hour under a water-jet vacuum. 5-Amino-1 ,10-phenanthroline is used for the following reaction without further purification.

Example 6: N-(1 -Hexyl-heptyl)-N'-(5-(1 , 1 0-phenanthrolin)-yI)-perylene-3,4:9, 1 0-bis- (dicarboximide) 1.72 g (3.00 mmol) of N-(1-hexyl-heptyl)-perylene-3,4:9,10-tetracarboxylic acid 3,4- anhydride 9,10-imide and 0.87 g (4.40 mmol) of unpurified 5-amino-1,10-phenanthroline are reacted for 3 hours at 15000 in 10 g of imidazole with the addition of 0.10 g (0.45 mmol) of zinc acetate dihydrate. The reaction product is introduced with about 50 ml of ethanol into 300 ml of 2N hydrochloric acid and stirring is carried out for 2 hours at room temperature.

The resulting precipitate is filtered off, washed with water/methanol and dried for 16 hours at 12000. The crude product can first be separated over aluminium oxide/chloroform/- ethanol (10 + 1) into two rough fractions A and B. Fraction A is discarded. The main fraction B is first applied to a column of silica gel/chloroform/glacial acetic acid (10 + 1). It is thus possible to elute some of the impurities, while N-(1-hexyl-heptyl)-N'-(5-(1,10-phenanthrolin)- yl)-perylene-3,4:9,10- bis(dicarboximide) remains firmly adsorbed on the material of the column. Desorption of N-(1 -hexyl-heptyl)-N'-(5-(1 ,1 0-phenanthrolin)-yI)-perylene-3,4:9, 10- bis(dicarboximide) is carried out with the eluant mixture chloroform/triethylamine (10 + 1).

Yield 0.65 g, m.p. > 350"C. - RF (silica gel/CHCI3/triethylamine (10 + 1)) = 0.58. - IR (KBr): v = 2955 cm~' (m), 2928 (m), 2857 (m), 1710 (m, sh), 1698 (s), 1658 (s, br.), 1596 (s), 1579 (m), 1510 (w), 1438 (w), 1431(w), 1405 (m), 1368 (w, sh), 1355 (m, sh), 1344 (s), 1253 (m), 1205(w), 1176(m), 1110(w), 968(w), 855(w), 830 (w), 811(m), 748(m), 742 (m), 730 (w), 690 (w). - C49H42N404: calc. 750.3206; found 750.3208 (MS). - C49H42N404 (750.9): calc. C 78.38, H 5.64, N 7.46; found C 76.85, H 5.61, N 7.68.

Example 7: N-(1 -Hexyl-heptyl)-N'-(4'-benzo-1 5-crown-5)-perylene-3,4:9, 1 0-bis(dicarbox- imide) 0.70 g (1.22 mmol) of N-(1-hexyl-heptyl)-perylene-3,4:9,10-tetracarboxylic acid 3,4- anhydride 9,10-imide and 0.43 g (1.52 mmol) of 4'-aminobenzo-15-crown-5 are heated for 4 hours at 140"C, under a protecting gas, with 0.08 g (0.36 mmol) of zinc acetate dihydrate in 10 g of imidazole. Before solidifying, the mixture is introduced with a total of 100 ml of ethanol into 300 ml of 2N hydrochloric acid and stirred for 2 hours at room temperature. The resulting precipitate is filtered off with suction over a D4 frit, washed with water and dried.

The filtrate is extracted with a total of 800 ml of chloroform, the solvent is removed and the two crude products are combined. The colourant so obtained is worked up by column chromatography on aluminium oxide in chloroform/ethanol (20 + 1) (504 cm column), the product N-(1 -hexyl-heptyl)-N'-(4'-benzo-1 5-crown-5)-perylene-3,4:9,1 0-bis(dicarboximide) being obtained as the first red, non-fluorescent band. The dye fraction obtained is filtered through a D4 frit and the solvent is then removed; the fraction is washed with methanol/- water and then dried for 24 hours under an oil-pump vacuum (80°C/0.13 mbar). Yield 0.51 g (50 %), m.p. 288-290"C. - RF (silica gel/CHCI3 + ethanol (10 + 1)) = 0.25. IR (KBr): v = 2955 cm1 (m), 2927 (s), 2858 (m), 1698 (s), 1660 (s), 1594 (s), 1579 (m), 1512 (s), <BR> <BR> <BR> 1455(w), 1433(w), 1405(m), 1354(m), 1345 (s br.), 1308(w), 1264(m), 1254 (s br.), 1176 (w), 1130 (s br.), 980 (w), 855 (w), 811 (s), 795 (m), 746 (m).- Fluorescence (CHC13): Xmax(E) = 535 nm, 575. C51H54N209(838.4): calc. C 73.01, H 6.49, N 3.34; found C 73.12, H 6.46, N 3.14.

Example 8: 4'-Aminobenzo-1 8-crown-6 0.52 g (1.45 mmol) of 4'-nitrobenzo-18-crown-6 and 0.18 g (3.60 mmol) of hydrazine hydrate are dissolved in 10 ml of absolute ethanol and heated to 400 C. The catalyst Pd/C (10 % Pd) is then added in portions until no further evolution of nitrogen can be observed.

The reaction mixture is then heated for one hour under reflux at boiling point and cooled to room temperature, and the solution is filtered off under a protecting gas. Following that procedure, all the components that are volatile at room temperature are removed under an oil-pump vacuum. The crude product is used for the following reactions without further purification.

Example 9: N-(1-Hexyl-heptyl)-N'-(4'-benzo-18-crown-6)-perylene-3,4:9,1 0-bis(dicarbox- imide) 0.83 g (1.45 mmol) of N-(1-hexyl-heptyl)-perylene-3,4:9,10-tetracarboxylic acid 3,4- anhydride 9,10-imide, 0.10 g (0.46 mmol) of zinc acetate dihydrate and 3 g of imidazole are added to the colourless oil of Example 8 (4'-aminobenzo-18-crown-6). The mixture is stirred for 3 hours at 140°C and is then diluted with 25 ml of ethanol and introduced into 200 ml of 2N hydrochloric acid. After stirring for one hour at room temperature, the resulting precipi- tate is filtered off with suction, washed until neutral with water/methanol and dried at 11000 in a drying cabinet. When working up by chromatography on aluminium oxide (60.4 cm column)/chloroform/ethanol (10 + 1) is carried out, two main fractions are isolated. The first fraction is discarded. The second main fraction is chromatographed on silica gel/chloro- form/glacial acetic acid (10 + 1), the product N-(1-hexyl-heptyl)-N'-(4'-benzo-18-crown-6)- perylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide) remaining adsorbed in the upper third of the column.

The dye fraction is eluted as a deep-red, non-fluorescent band using chloroform/triethyl- amine (10 + 1), concentrated using a rotary evaporator, washed with water, dried at 11000 and prepared in the manner customary for elemental analysis. Yield 0.25 g (20 %), m.p. 247-249"C. - Rp (silica gel/CHCI3/triethylamine (10+1)) = 0.82. - IR (KBr) : v = 2955 cm1 (m), 2927 (m), 2857 (m), 1696 (s), 1658 (s), 1594 (s), 1579 (m), 1514 (m), 1457 (w), 1433 (w), 1405 1355(m), 1345(s), 1255(s), 1197(w), 1177(m), 1123(s), 960 (w), 811 (m), 796 (w), 746 (m). - Fluorescence (CHCl3): 4XaX(E) = 538 nm, 577.

- C53H58N2010 (883.1): calc. C 72.09, H 6.62, N 3.17; found C 71.46, H 6.77, N 3.29.

- C53H58N2Or0 - 0.5 H2O (892.1): calc. C 71.36, H 6.66, N 3.14; found C 71.46, H 6.77, N 3.29.

Example 10: N,N'-Bis(4'-benzo-15-crown-5)-perylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarbox imide) 0.39 g (1.27 mmol) of perylene-3,4:9,10-tetracarboxylic acid bisanhydride, 0.76 g (2.67 mmol) of 4-aminobenzo-15-crown-5, 0.08 g of zinc acetate dihydrate and 7 g of imidazole are stirred for 3 hours at 140°C. The reaction mixture is suspended while still warm in 50 ml of ethanol and is then transferred into 300 ml of 2N hydrochloric acid. After one hour, the resulting precipitate is filtered off with suction and dried. 0.5 g of the crude product is boiled a total of three times with 200 ml of 10 % potassium carbonate solution each time and the insoluble product is isolated using a D4 frit. The filtrate is discarded. The precipitate is washed several times with hot water and then dried at 10000. The powdered product N,N'-bis(4'-benzo-1 5-crown-5)-perylene-3,4:9, 1 0-bis(dicarboximide) is transferred to an extraction thimble and extracted in succession with methylene chloride, acetone and ethanol for in each case from one to two days. The insoluble product N,N'-bis(4'-benzo-15- crown-5)-perylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide) is in the extraction thimble. Yield 0.11 g (22 %), based on 0.5 g of the crude product treated in that manner. - IR (KBr): v = 2920 cm1 (m), 2870 (m), 1702 (s), 1662 (s), 1594 (s), 1578 (m), 1514 (s), 1453 (m), 1431 (m), 1404 (m), 1362 (s), 1331 (m), 1268 (s br.), 1256 (s br.), 1197 (m), 1179(m), 1133 (m br.), 1122 (s br.), 1050 (m), 970 (w), 940 (m), 856 (m), 811 (m), 798 (m), 768 (m), 760 (m), 630 (m). - UV (H2SO4): may(£) = 603 nm (79 000), 558 (46 200), 522 sh (16 600), 400 (6500). - C52H46N2014 (922.9): calc. C 67.67, H 5.02, N 3.03; found C 62.97, H 4.59, N 2.91.

Example 1 1: N-(1 -Hexyl-heptyl)-N'-(2-methylene-1 2-crown-4)-perylene-3,4:9, 1 0-bis (dicarboximide) 0.57 g (1.00 mmol) of N-(1-hexyl-heptyl)-perylene-3,4:9,10-tetracarboxylic acid 3,4- anhydride 9,10-imide and 0.25 g (1.22 mmol) of 2-aminomethyl-12-crown-4 are maintained at 140"C for one hour in 4 g of imidazole. Before cooling, the reaction mixture is introduced with 50 ml of ethanol into 200 ml of 2N hydrochloric acid. After stirring for 2 hours, the resulting precipitate is filtered off with suction over a D4 frit, washed with methanol/water and dried overnight at 11000. The crude product is worked up by column cbromatography on aluminium oxide (30.4 cm column)/chloroform/ethanol (10 + 1). The product is eluted with the eluant mixture chloroform/ethanol (10 + 1). Yield 0.53 g (70 %). The dye N-(1- hexyl-heptyl)-N'-(2-methylene-1 2-crown-4)-perylene-3,4:9, 1 0-bis(dicarboximide) is highly purified by chromatography on silica gel/chloroform/ethanol (20 + 1). The dye fraction is filtered through a D4 frit, methanol is added, and the mixture is concentrated by evaporation and dried for 24 hours at 90"C under an oil-pump vacuum. Yield 0.36 g (47 %), m.p.

251-252"C. - RF (silica gel/CHCI3/ethanol (10+1)) = 0.56. - IR (KBr): v = 2953 cm~' (m), 2927 (m), 2855 (m), 1696 (s), 1658 (s), 1595 (s), 1577 (m), 1506 (w), 1437 (m), 1405 (m), 1355 (m), 1344 (s br.), 1252 (m), 1177 (w), 1127 (m), 1098 (w), 860 (w), 810 (m), 747 (m).

- UV (CHC13): Xmax(£) = 527 nm (86 100), 490 (51 800), 459 (19 400). - Fluorescence (CHC13): Xmax(E) = 535 nm, 572. - Solid-state fluorescence: 4ax(E) = 528 nm, 569, 603.

- C46H52N2Og (760.9): calc. C 72.61, H 6.89, N 3.68; found C 72.74, H 6.57, N 3.79.

Example 12: N-(1 -Hexyl-heptyl)-N'-(2-methylene-1 5-crown-5)-perylene-3,4:9, 1 0-bis- (dicarboximide) Under argon, 0.50 g (0.87 mmol) of N-(1-hexyl-heptyl)-perylene-3,4:9,10-tetracarboxylic acid 3,4-anhydride 9,10-imide is reacted at 140"C for one hour with 0.25 g (1.00 mmol) of 2-aminomethyl-15-crown-5 in 4 g of imidazole. Before cooling, the reaction product is suspended in 50 ml of ethanol; 200 ml of 2N hydrochloric acid are added and the mixture is then stirred for 2 hours at room temperature. The resulting precipitate is filtered off with suction over a D4 frit, washed (methanol/water) and dried for 8 hours at 10000. For purifi- cation, the crude product is chromatographed on aluminium oxide (30.4 cm column) and twice on silica gel, in each case using chloroform/ethanol (10 + 1) as eluant. The dye fraction so obtained is filtered through a D4 frit, the solvent is removed and drying is carried out for 24 hours at 10000 under an oil-pump vacuum. Yield 0.57 g (81 %) of crude product. - Yield 0.51 g (72 %), m.p.190-192°C. - RF (silica gel/CHCI3/ethanol (10+1)) = 0.27. - IR (KBr): v = 2950 cm" (m), 2927 (m), 2852 (m), 1697 (s), 1658 (s), 1595 (s), 1576 <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> (m), 1506(w), 1438(m), 1404(m), 1382(w), 1351(m), 1343 (s br.), 1252(m), 1175(w), 1118 (m br.), 942 (w), 855 (w), 811 (m), 747 (m).- UV (CHC13): xmax(E) = 527 nm (84 600), 489 (50 700), 459 (18 200). - Fluorescence (CHC13): Amax(E) = 534 nm, 574.

C48H56N209(805.0): calc. C 71.62, H 7.01, N 3.48; found C 71.96, H 7.03, N 3.51.

Example 13: N-(1 -Hexyl-heptyl)-N'-(2-methylene-1 8-crown-6)-perylene-3,4:9, 1 0-bis- (dicarboximide) 0.29 g (0.50 mmol) of N-(1 -hexyl-heptyl)-perylene-3,4:9, 1 0-tetracarboxylic acid 3,4- anhydride 9,10-imide and 0.15 g (0.51 mmol) of 2-aminomethyl-18-crown-6 in 5 g of imidazole are reacted for one hour, with stirring, at an oil bath temperature of 140"C. Before cooling, the mixture is suspended in 50 ml of ethanol; 100 ml of 2N hydrochloric acid are added and the mixture is stirred overnight at room temperature. The resulting precipitate is filtered off with suction over a D4 frit, washed (water/methanol) and dried for 16 hours at 11000. The dye crude product is purified by column chromatography on aluminium oxide (304 cm column) using chloroform/ethanol (10 + 1) as eluant. The product N-(1-hexyl- heptyl)-N'-(2-methylene-1 8-crown-6)-perylene-3,4:9, 1 0-bis(dicarboximide) firmly adsorbed on the silica gel is eluted with chloroform/triethylamine (20 + 1). The main fraction is filtered through a D4 frit, methanol is added, the mixture is concentrated by evaporation and the residue is dried for 24 hours at 900C under an oil-pump vacuum. Yield 0.24 g (56 %), m.p.

161-163"C. - RF (silica gel/CHCI3/triethylamine (10+1)) = 0.87. - RF (silica gel/CHCI3/triethyl- amine (20+1)) = 0.51. IR (KBr): v = 2952cm1 (m), 2927 (s), 2859 (m), 1697 (s), 1682 (w), 1656 (s), 1634 (w), 1595 (s), 1576 (m), 1439 (m), 1404 (m), 1351 (s), 1344 (s), 1251 (m), 1175 (w), 1106 (s br.), 960 (w), 860 (w), 810 (m), 747 (m). - UV (CHCI3): XmaX(E) = 526 nm (84 000), 490 (50 300), 459 (18 000). - Fluorescence (CHC13): Bmax(E) = 535 nm, 575.

C50H60N2O,0 (849.0): calc. C 70.73, H 7.12, N 3.30; found C 70.98, H 7.17, N 3.42.

Example 14: Addition of various heavy metal ions to the dye N-(1-hexyl-heptyl)-N'-(2- methylene-1 5-crown-5)-perylene-3,4:9,1 0-bis(dicarboximide) Weighed-in amount of the dye N-(1-heXyl-heptyl)-N'-(2-methylene-15-crown-5)-perylene- 3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide) (M = 805.0 g mol1): 1.315 mg in 100 ml of chloroform. - 3 ml (4.9-10-5 mmol) of the dye solution are placed in each of a number of vessels; an increasing amount of the heavy metal salt is added and the mixture is made up to a constant volume.

The sealed vessels are stored for 3-7 days with the exclusion of light so that the metal can become thoroughly bonded by the crown ether.

The quenching of fluorescence by an added quencher is generally described by the Stern- Vollmer equation, it being possible, if the distribution function of the absorption and fluorescence spectrum does not change, to replace the ratio of the quantum yields Qf0/Qf by the ratio of the fluorescence intensities F0/F (Fo = fluorescence intensity in the absence of a quencher, F = fluorescence intensity with a quencher), which is readily obtainable by experi- ment. For linearisation, F0/F can then be plotted against the quencher concentration Q].

(a) Iron(lll) nitrate nonahydrate Weighed-in amount of iron(lll) nitrate nonahydrate (M = 404.0 g mol-1): 0.596 mg in 25 ml of ethanol, or 1 ml of solution accordingly contains 5.9-10-5 mmol of Fe3+ salt.

Table 1: Fluorescence quenching of N-(1-hexyl-heptyl)-N'-(2-methylene-15-crown-5)- perylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide) (4.9#10-8 mol/litre) by iron(lll) nitrate nonahydrate ml Fe3+ [Fe ] [Dye] : [Fe3+] Frel F0/F solution [10-8 mol/litre] 538 nm 0 0 -- 687 1.0 0.1 0.59 8:1 646 0.94 0.2 1.18 4:1 631 0.92 0.4 2.36 2:1 618 0.90 0.6 3.54 1.4:1 615 0.89 0.8 4.72 1:1 631 0.91 1.0 5.9 1:1.2 657 0.95 1.5 8.85 1:1.8 573 0.83 2.0 11.8 1:2.4 560 0.82 4.0 23.6 1 4.8 488 0.71 8.0 47.2 1 9.6 375 0.55 (b) Chromium(lll) nitrate nonahydrate Weighed-in amount of chromium(lll) nitrate nonahydrate (M = 400.1 g mol-1): 0.752 mg in 25 ml of ethanol. 1 ml of solution accordingly contains 7.51#10-8 mol of Cr3+salt.

Table 2: Fluorescence quenching of N-(1-hexyl-heptyl)-N'-(2-methylene-15-crown-5)- perylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide) (4.9-10-8 mol/litre) by chromium(lil) nitrate nonahydrate ml Cr3+ [Cr3+] [Dye] : [Cr3'] Fre F0/F solution [10-8 mol/litre] 538 nm 0 0 -- 797 1.0 0.1 0.75 6.5:1 795 0.99 0.2 1.50 3.3:1 733 0.92 0.3 2.25 2.2:1 737 0.92 0.4 3.0 1.6:1 708 0.89 0.5 3.75 1.3:1 698 0.88 0.6 4.5 1.1:1 684 0.86 0.8 6.0 1:1.2 680 0.85 1.0 7.5 1:1.5 660 0.83 2.0 15 1:3 658 0.83 4.0 30 1: 6 543 0.68 (c) Manganese(ll) chloride tetrahydrate Weighed-in amount of manganese(ll) chloride tetrahydrate (M = 197.9 g mol''): 1.566 mg in 25 ml of ethanol. 1 ml of solution accordingly contains 3.17-10'7 mol of Mn2+ salt.

Table 3: Fluorescence quenching of N-(1-hexyl-heptyl)-N'-(2-methylene-15-crown-5)- perylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide) (4.9.10.8 mol/litre) by manganese(ll) chloride tetra- hydrate ml Mn [Mn2+] [Dye] : [Mn2+] Fre FdF solution [10.8 mol/litre] 538 nm 0 0 -- 691 1.00 0.01 0.32 15:1 678 1.02 0.02 0.64 7:1 678 1.02 0.03 0.96 5:1 673 1.03 0.04 1.28 3.8:1 648 1.07 0.05 1.6 3:1 699 0.99 0.06 1.92 2.5:1 683 1.01 0.08 2.56 1.9:1 718 0.96 0.1 3.2 1.5:1 736 0.94 0.4 12.8 1: 2.6 705 0.98 1.0 32 1:6.5 707 0.98 Example 15: Bis-N ,N'-(2-methylene-1 2-crown-4)-perylene-3,4:9,1 0-bis(dicarboximide) A mixture of 0.20 g (0.50 mmol) of perylenetetracarboxylic acid bisanhydride and 0.22 g (1.07 mmol) of 2-aminomethyl-1 2-crown-4 in 4 g of imidazole is reacted at 140"C. After 1.5 hours, 50 ml of ethanol are added carefully; 200 ml of 2N hydrochloric acid are added and the mixture is stirred for 2 hours at room temperature. The resulting precipitate is isolated over a D4 frit. The filtrate is extracted repeatedly with a total of 200 ml of chloro- form and, after the solvent has been evaporated off, the solid phases are combined. Yield: 0.32 g (82 %) of crude product.

After concentration, the suspension of bis-N,N'-(2-methylene-12-crown-4)-perylene- 3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide) obtained above is allowed to stand in chloroform (with ethanol or triethylamine) in the closed vessel for from one to three days. Some of the impurities can be separated off by chromatography on silica gel using chloroform/ethanol (10 + 1). Since some of the product bis-N,N'-(2-methylene-1 2-crown-4)-perylene-3,4:9, 1 0-bis(dicarbox- imide) remains adsorbed on the silica gel and, moreover, migrates as a very broad, unstruc- tured band; the latter is focused with the eluant mixture chloroform/triethylamine (10 + 1) and the dye fraction is separated. The solution is concentrated by evaporation, the solid material is taken up in chloroform and filtered through a D4 frit, and ligroin is added. After the solvent mixture has been distilled off, the black product bis-N,N'-(2-methylene-12- crown-4)-perylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide) is washed with diethyl ether and pentane.

For the elemental analysis, 0.1 g of bis-N,N'-(2-methylene-12-crown-4)-perylene-3,4:9,10- bis(dicarboximide) is purified further by extractive recrystallisation from distilled toluene.

Yield 0.16 g (41 %) of a greenish-black microcrystalline powder, m.p. > 360°C.

At a temperature of 240-250°C, the black modification changes into a red modification.

RF (silica gel/CHCI3/ethanol (10+1)) = 0.02. - IR (KBr): v = 2922 cm1 (m br.), 2868 (m), 1694 1658 (s br.), 1595 (s), 1578(m), 1506 (w), 1441(m), 1403 (m), 1360 (m br.), 1347 <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> (m), 1300(w), 1252(m), 1185(w), 1129(m), 1094(m), 1030 (w), (w), 860 (w), 810 (m), 795 (w), 747 (m). - C42H42N2O,2 (766.8): calc. C 65.79, H 5.52, N 3.65; found C 65.66, H 5.51, N 3.65.

Example 16: Bis-N,N'-(2-methylene-1 5-crown-5)-perylene-3,4:9, 1 0-bis(dicarboximide) 0.35 g (0.90 mmol) of perylenetetracarboxylic acid bisanhydride and 0.45 g (1.80 mmol) of 2-amino-methyl-15-crown-5 are reacted for 2 hours at an oil bath temperature of 140°C in 5 g of imidazole. The reaction mixture is taken up in 200 ml of chloroform and is extracted in order to remove imidazole once with 100 ml of concentrated hydrochloric acid and twice with 100 ml of 2N hydrochloric acid each time. Bis-N,N'-(2-methylene-15-crown-5)-perylene- 3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide) goes into a colloidal solution, and the combined hydrochloric acid phases are therefore extracted again with a total of 300 mi of chloroform. The red solid, which is moderately soluble in both phases, is worked up together with the organic phase. The combined chloroform extracts are concentrated to a volume of about 20 ml and dried and purified by chromatography on aluminium oxide (504 cm column, chloroform/- ethanol (20 + 1)). The dye fraction so obtained is then chromatographed on silica gel using chloroform/triethylamine (10 + 1) as eluant. Bis-N,N'-(2-methylene-1 5-crown-5)-perylene- 3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide) is concentrated to dryness by evaporation, taken up in a small amount of chloroform and filtered through a D4 frit, and ligroin is added. On removal of the solvents using a rotary evaporator, the red product bis-N,N'-(2-methylene-15-crown-5)- perylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide) precipitates out and, after thorough washing with diethyl ether and pentane, is dried for 24 hours at 10000 under an oil-pump vacuum. Yield 0.20 g (26 %), m.p. > 350"C. - RF (silica gel/CHCI3/triethylamine (10 + 1)) = 0.42 - IR (KBr): v = 2910 cm~' (m sh), 2869 (m), 1694 (s), 1658 (s), 1618(w), 1596 (s), 1579 (m), 1511 (w), 1506 (w), 1467 (w), 1439 (m), 1403 (m), 1358 (s br.), 1349 (s br.), 1301 (w br.), 1249 (m), 1178 (m), 1119 (s br.), 1036 (w), 985 (w), 946 (w), 865 (w), 811 (m), 795 (w), 747 (m), 640 (w). - UV (CHC13): may(£) = 526 nm (85 200), 489 (51 000), 458 (18 200). - Fluorescence (CHC13): 4MaX(e) = 534 nm, 574. - Solid-state fluorescence: oax(E) = 625 nm. - C46H50N2O,4 (854.9): calc. C 64.63, H 5.90, N 3.28; found C 64.54, H 5.91, N 3.33.

Example 17: Bis-N,N'-(2-methylene-l 8-crnwn-6)-perylene-3,4:9,1 0-bis(dicarboximide) 0.27 g (0.69 mmol) of perylenetetracarboxylic acid bisanhydride, 0.44 g (1.50 mmol) of 2- aminomethyl-1 8-crown-6 and 5 g of imidazole are stirred at an oil bath temperature of 140"C. The reaction is terminated after 1.5 hours by the careful dropwise addition of 200 ml of 2N hydrochloric acid. The mixture is stirred for a further one hour at room temperature and then extracted with a total of 600 ml of chloroform (until the aqueous phase has become decoloured), and the organic phase is filtered over aluminium oxide (10-4 cm column)/chloroform/ethanol (10 + 1). Yield 0.53 g (82 %) of crude product. The crude product is chromatographed twice on silica gel/chloroform/triethylamine (10+1), the middle fractions proving to be uniform. The phases that are pure according to thin-layer chromato- graphy are concentrated completely by evaporation and then taken up in a small amount of chloroform and filtered through a D4 frit, and ligroin is added. When the solvent mixture is distilled off, bis-N, N'-(2-methylene-1 8-crown-6)-perylene-3,4:9, 1 0-bis(dicarboximide) precipitates out and, after thorough washing with diethyl ether and pentane, is dried for 24 hours at 10000 in vacuo (0.013 mbar). 0.1 g of bis-N,N'-(2-methylene-18-crown-6)- perylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide) is chromatographed again on silica gel/chloroform/- triethylamine (10 + 1) (analytically pure). Yield 0.36 g (55 %), m.p. 290-291"C. - RF (silica gel/CHCI3/triethylamine (10+1)) = 0.30. IR (KBr): v = 2911 cm1 (m), 2865 (m), 1693 (s), 1653 (s), 1594 (s), 1577 (m), 1506 (w), 1472 (w), 1457 (w), 1440 (m), 1403 (m), 1352 (m br.), 1290 (w), 1250 (m), 1178 (w), 1103 (s br.), 990 (w), 959 (w), 860 (w), 835 (w), 810 (m), 795 (w), 747 (m), 668 (m). - UV (CHC13): may(£) = 526 nm (82 700), 490 (50 000), 459 (19 000). - UV (ethanol/water (4 + 1)): may(£) = 525 nm, 490, 459. - Fluorescence (CHC13): Xmas(£) = 533 nm, 575. - Fluorescence (ethanol/water (4 + 1)): xmas(£) = 540 nm, 576.

C50H5öN2016 (943.0): calc. C 63.68, H 6.20, N 2.97; found C 63.46, H 6.12, N 3.04.

Example 18: 4',5'-Diaminobenzo-1 5-crown-S 0.30 g (0.91 mmol) of 4'-amino-5'-nitrobenzo-15-crown-5 is suspended under argon in 20 ml of absolute ethanol, and 0.14 g (2.80 mmol) of hydrazine hydrate is added. The suspension is heated to 40"C, and a spatula tip of the catalyst Pd/C (10 % Pd) is added in portions, whereupon the immediate evolution of nitrogen can be observed. Further catalyst is added in portions until no further evolution of gas occurs (about 2 hours); the mixture is then heated under reflux for a further one hour and, after cooling, the catalyst is filtered off.

Chloroform has proved to be a suitable solvent. The filtrate rapidly changes colour in the air via yellow to yellow-green. The solvent is then removed in vacuo and the residue is dried for one hour. The crude product 4',5'-diaminobenzo-15-crown-5 is used for the following reaction without further working up.

Example 19: Condensation of 4',5'-diaminobenzo-15-crown-5 with N-(1-nonyl-decyl)- perylene-3,4:9,1 0-tetracarboxylic acid 3,4-anhydride 9,1 0-imide 0.40 g (0.61 mmol) of N-(1-nonyl-decyl)-perylene-3,4:9,10-tetracarboxylic acid 3,4- anhydride 9,10-imide and 0.27 g (0.91 mmol) of unpurified 4',5'-diaminobenzo-15-crown-5 are stirred in 10 ml of quinoline at 18000 for 2 hours. The reaction is terminated by the addition of 50 ml of ethanol, and the mixture is introduced into 200 ml of 2N hydrochloric acid and stirred overnight at room temperature. The resulting precipitate is separated off over a D4 frit, washed thoroughly with water/methanol and dried for one hour at 11000.

Yield 0.36 g (64 %). The crude product is chromatographed twice on silica gel using chloroform/ethanol (10 + 1) as eluant. Two red by-products are separated off in the first runnings, while the violet dye remains adsorbed in the upper third of the column. By changing the eluant mixture (chloroform/ethanol (4 + 1)), it is possible to obtain the product from the column in the form of a very broad band. The elution is accelerated by fiash chromatography. Yield 0.23 g (41 %). For the elemental analysis, 0.1 g of the dye is chromatographed on aluminium oxide using chloroform as eluant. The dye solution is filtered through a D4 frit; methanol is added and then the solvent mixture is removed and the black-violet powder is dried for 24 hours at 90°C in vacuo (0.13 mbar). Yield 0.09 g (90 %, based on the purification step). Yield 0.23 g (41 %), m.p. > 350°C. - RF (silica gel/- CHCl3/ethanol (4+1)) = 0.68.- IR (KBr): v = 2924 cm-1(s), 2854 (m), 1693 (s), 1653 (s), 1616 <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> (w), 1593(s), 1576(w), 1545 (w), 1506(w), 1484 (m), 1469 (w), 1448 (m), 1425 (w), 1396<BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> (m), 1375(m), 1356(m), 1337(s), 1315 (m), 1290 (s), 1250 (m), 1216 (m), 1170 (w), 1129 (m br.), 1050 (w), 976 (w), 938 (w), 850 (m), 807 (s), 745 (m), 668 (m). UV (CHCl3): #max(#) = 573 nm (32 000), 533 sh (27 000), 356 (13 700). C57H65N3Oô (920.2): calc. C 74.40, H 7.12, N 4.57; found C 74.75, H 7.10, N 4.54.