US Patent 7375225 4-cyanocoumarin derivatives and uses thereof

4-Cyanocoumarin derivatives which have a distinct sensitivity to visible light, distinct luminescent ability, and satisfactory applicability for photochemical polymerization, dye lasers, and organic electroluminescent elements. Since most of the derivatives have a fluorescent maximum wavelength of 600 to 650 nm, particularly, 610 to 630 nm, they are extremely useful as luminescent agents for organic EL elements which emit visible light in a red-color region, and can be quite useful as luminescent agents in organic EL elements and laser-active substances in dye lasers, as well as luminous bodies as lighting sources for lighting devices, and information displays for visually displaying information.