The fundamental aspects of aromatic endoperoxide chemistry are reviewed including their synthesis and reactions. The discussion will focus on factors that will both enhance and prevent the formation of aromatic endoperoxides and on structural features that will provide control over their ability to release singlet oxygen. This approach recognizes the dual use of aromatic hydrocarbons as both precursors of endoperoxides and as valuable materials for incorporation in electronic and photonic devices. Improvement of the existing methods and development of new methods for the synthesis of endoperoxides is necessary as a result of the demand to improve existing and to create new applications for these valuable materials. On the contrary, prevention of endoperoxide formation is crucial to inhibit irreversible oxidative degradation of aromatic hydrocarbons and to extend their lifetimes as useful organic semiconductors.
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