(CN-picene), a picene derivative that absorbs visible-light, was synthesized and its photocatalytic activity for hydrogen production via water decomposition under visible-light irradiation was evaluated. A CN-picene thin-film deposited on a quartz substrate (CNp/Q) was produced by thermal evaporation under vacuum. Hydrogen formation was observed by subjecting CNp/Q to visible-light irradiation in the presence
of picene was achieved by photosensitization of 1,2-di(1-naphthyl)ethane using 9-fluorenone as a sensitizer. This sensitized photoreaction is the first photochemical cyclization of ethylene-bridged naphthalene moieties to afford the picene skeleton. 5,8-Dibromopicene, prepared by this procedure using 1,2-di[1-(4-bromonaphthyl)]ethane as the substrate, was readily converted to novel functionalized picenes