A facile access to substituted cationic 12-azapyrene salts by rhodium(III)-catalyzed C–H annulation of N-arylpyridinium salts

Substituted cationic 12-azapyrene salts were conveniently synthesized by rhodium(III)-catalyzed C–H annulation of N-arylpyridinium salts with alkynes. The resultant substituted cationic 12-azapyrene salts showed tunable and intense fluorescent emission in solution as well as in the solid state.