Orchestrated catalytic double rollover annulation: rapid access to N-enriched cationic and neutral PAHs.

Disclosed herein is a rhodium(iii)-catalyzed novel one-step back-to-back double rollover annulation on pyridine and pyrazine backbones leading to a structurally and optoelectronically diverse class of nicely decorated multi-ring-fused, extensively π-conjugated, N-enriched PAH molecules by virtue of orchestrated quadruple C-H activation events. Selected N-PAHs have been utilized as potential mitochondria and lysosome markers.