Integration of nitrogen into coronene bisimides

N-Decorated PBIs and CBIs have been synthesized by the combination of Pictet–Spengler condensation and subsequent oxidative aromatization based on highly electron-deficient amino-PBIs. A detailed analysis of their photophysical properties and molecular crystals has shown that the lateral aryl groups appended on the N-heterocycle have a negligible effect on their optical absorptions and electrochemical potentials, but the subtle modification leads to significant variations on arrangement in the solid state.