Quinoline yellow is representative of a large class of quinophthalone pigments.

[1] It is suggested that quinoline yellow exhibits excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) behavior and the behavior might be the cause of its decent photostability, by recent spectroscopic study.

[3] Using other anhydrides and other quinaldine derivatives other dyes in the quinophthalone family can be prepared.

When sulfonated, it converts to a water-soluble derivative, Quinoline Yellow WS.

Quinoline Yellow SS is used in spirit lacquers, polystyrene, polycarbonates, polyamides, acrylic resins, and to color hydrocarbon solvents.