Progressive acylation of pyrene engineers solid state packing and colour via C-H···H-C, C-H···O and π-π interactions

Quantum theory of atoms-in-molecules and Hirshfeld surface analyses indicated an increase in the extent of (i) C-H···H-C; (ii) C-H···O, (iii) π-π interactions and a decrease in the extent of (i) σ-π interaction, (ii) an interplanar angle between the vicinal pyrene units in a series of acetylpyrene derivatives offering blue-green-orange emissive crystals.