Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of a Dye Library: Glass-Forming and Solid-State Luminescent Merocyanines for Functional Materials.

A highly efficient multicomponent reaction based on the little-known formylating agent dimethylformamide in acetic anhydride led to a multitude of dyes of the indoline (1) and of the thiazole type (2), whose systematic evaluation revealed desired and surprising solid-state properties.