Highly fluorescent and stable 6,7-dimethoxy-2-oxoquinoline-4-carbonitriles (11) were synthesized starting from appropriate 4-hydroxyquinolones 3 via reactive 4-chloroquinolones 8 by using toluenesulfinates as catalysts. In contrast to the well-described 4-trifluoromethyl-substituted analogues 18, N-substituted derivatives 11 fluoresce in water, polar, and apolar solvents in a narrow 430-440-nm window with almost constant quantum yield of 0.5. Equal excitation is possible in the broad double maximum between 385 and 410 nm yield-