This book explores the design, synthesis, and functional exploration of non-benzenoid polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), focusing on fluoranthene-derived non-benzenoid frameworks. It shows how molecular topology, especially embedded five-membered rings, can be used to control optical properties and construct new nanocarbon architectures. Unlike conventional approaches based mainly on π-extension, antiaromaticity, or donor–acceptor perturbation, this work highlights non-benzenoid topology as a robust design principle.

Key findings include halochromism, solvatochromism, mechanochromism, and NIR absorption in hydroxy-dibenzofluoranthene derivatives without excessive π-extension. The book also presents a metal-free oxidative C–H biaryl coupling reaction driven by acid, visible light, and O2. This method enables efficient access to axially chiral three-dimensional nanographenes (NGs). The resulting NGs serve as versatile platforms for Pt complexes, π-extended NGs, and azulene-embedded architectures.

Readers will gain both practical synthetic methods and conceptual insight into how unusual PAH skeletons generate optical function and enable new molecular design. This topic is timely because stable long-wavelength organic materials and precisely designed nanocarbons are increasingly important in materials science and molecular electronics.

Kazuma Kurokawa received his Ph.D. from the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University under the supervision of Prof. Kiyosei Takasu. His research focuses on the synthesis and functionalization of non-benzenoid polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and nanographenes. He is currently a JSPS Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Prof. Akio Ojida’s group at Kyushu University.