6,13-dibromopentacene [2,3:9,10]-bis(dicarboximide): a versatile building block for stable pentacene derivatives

6,13-Dibromopentacene 2,3:9,10]-bis(dicarboximide) (1) was synthesized for the first time by using in situ generated benzo1,2-c:4,5-c']difuran as a key intermediate. Compound 1 exhibits good photostability in comparison to other pentacene derivatives and it can be further functionalized by Pd-catalyzed coupling reactions to give a series of soluble and stable functional pentacenes.