Photophysical Properties of a Substituted Trinaphthylene Synthesized via Palladium-Catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] Aryne Cyclotrimerization

Abstract Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are fundamental building blocks for organic materials due to their extended π-conjugation and tunable optoelectronic behavior. Among them, trinaphthylenes exhibit remarkable electronic delocalization and structural rigidity, making them attractive candidates for applications in molecular electronics and photonics. In this work, we present an approach to access a novel trinaphthylene derivative through palladium-catalyzed cyclotrimerization of in situ-generated arynes. This transformation leverages a dimethoxynaphthalene precursor, expanding the synthetic utility of these intermediates toward complex aromatic architectures. Comprehensive photophysical studies revealed the luminescent nature of the obtained framework, underscoring its potential as a new platform for the development of organic semiconductors and related optoelectronic materials.