Three deep-blue-emitting anthracene derivatives, 2-tert-butyl-9, 10-bis (9, 9- dimethylfluorenyl) anthracene (TBMFA), 2-tert-butyl-9, 10-bis [4-(2-naphthyl) phenyl] anthracene (TBDNPA), and 2-tert-butyl-9, 10-bis [4-(9, 9-dimethylfluorenyl) phenyl] anthracene (TBMFPA), with naphthalene or 9, 9-dimethylfluorene side units, have been designed, synthesized, and characterized. The anthracene derivatives show strong deep- ...