A process for preparing a substituted or unsubstituted 9,10-diarylanthracene including reacting an organometallic substituted or unsubstituted aryl compound with a substituted or unsubstituted anthraquinone to yield a substituted or unsubstituted diol; and reacting the substituted or unsubstituted diol with a reducing agent to yield the substituted or unsubstituted 9,10-diarylanthracene is disclosed. An electroluminescent device comprising a light-emitting layer comprising the substituted or unsubstituted 9,10-diarylanthracene is also disclosed.