The synthesis of phenyl-substituted 8, 9-dibromofluoranthene and p-dodecylphenyl- substituted 8, 9-fluoranthene anthranilic acid is presented. Their synthetic potential as 8, 9- didehydrofluoranthene precursors is demonstrated in combination with a new biscyclopentadienone by the synthesis of novel phenyl-substituted PAHs with up to 14 annulated rings. The crystal structure of 7, 16-diphenylfluorantheno [8, 9-k] fluoranthene is ...