Compared to quinolines, isoquinolines are also prominent structural motifs present in many biologically significant natural and synthetic compounds. Some well-known isoquinoline alkaloids include the anticancer and anticonvulsant berberine, the vasodilator and antispasmodic drugs papaverine and emetine. In addition to naturally occurring isoquinolines, synthetic analogs have also shown significant biological activity.
Fluorene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon insoluble in water and soluble in many organic solvents. Fluorenes are one of the most important fluorescent molecules with applications in polymers, electronic devices, sensors, and photochromic materials.