The presence of a reactive σ3, λ3-P moiety within the sp2-carbon scaffold allows the
preparation of a new family of PAHs displaying tunable optical and redox properties. Their
frontier molecular orbitals (MOs) are derived from the corresponding phosphole MOs and
show extended conjugation with the entire π framework. The coordination ability of the P
center allows the coordination-driven assembly of two molecular PAHs onto a AuI ion.