Synthesis of Azulene and Its Functionalized Derivatives

Azulene is a non-alternant aromatic scaffold having a 10π Huckel electron system and is an isomer of naphthalene. Azulene and its derivatives have garnered significant attention from academic and industrial researchers due to their unique electronic properties, unusual chemical reactivity, and potential applications in optoelectronics. The research on azulene-hybrid polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has notably increased in recent years; however, the absence of efficient synthetic strategies has been a hindrance to detailed insights into the structure-property relationships of azulene derivatives. The application of this aromatic chameleon is dependent on the synthetic methods available. This chapter focuses on the different synthetic approaches of azulene, as well as its important functionalized derivatives. This research will be of immense significance to organic chemists and material scientists, as well.