The central β-lactam ring of the title compound, C36H24N2O4, is almost planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.003 Å) and makes dihedral angles of 17.17 (19), 89.76 (17) and 78.44 (17)° with the benzene ring, the anthracene ring (r.m.s. deviation = 0.003 Å) and the 1H-benzo[de]isoquinoline-1,3(2H)-dione moiety, which is nearly planar [maximum deviation = 0.098 (2) Å], respectively. The molecular structure is stabilized by an intramolecular C—H⋯N hydrogen bond. In the crystal, molecules are linked via C—H⋯π and π–π stacking interactions [centroid–centroid distances = 3.5270 (19) and 3.779 (2) Å], forming a three-dimensional structure. A region of disordered electron density, probably disordered solvent molecules, was treated with the SQUEEZE procedure in PLATON [Spek (2015 ▸). Acta Cryst. C71, 9–18], which indicated a solvent cavity of 322 Å3 containing approximately 91 electrons. Their formula mass and unit-cell characteristics were not taken into account during the refinement.