Abstract A general procedure for the preparation of three N-heterocyclic carbene stabilized, boron-containing acenes (9-boraanthracene, 5-boranaphthacene, and 6-borapentacene) is presented. The key steps involve a transmetallation reaction between BCl 3 and an appropriate stannacyclic precursor, and the dehydrochlorination of the H 2 IMes adduct of the chloroborane product. Comparative structural, photophysical, and redox properties ...