An orthogonal C-H borylation--cross-coupling strategy for the preparation of tetrasubstituted "A2B2"-chrysene derivatives with tuneable photophysical properties.

The regioselective, orthogonal functionalisation of 4,10-dichlorochrysene enables the synthesis of a variety of 2,8,4,10-"A2B2"-tetrasubstituted chrysenes. Such compounds exhibit broadened UV-vis absorption spectra, decreased band gap and higher HOMO levels compared to the parent chrysene.