A variety of polysubstituted 1H-indenes can be prepared through the copper-catalyzed arylative cyclization of simple arylalkynes with commercially available aromatic sulfonyl chlorides that function as an aryl group donor. The reaction tolerates a broad range of. functional groups, including bromide and iodide, nitrile, ketone, and nitro groups. The reaction allowed the synthesis. of poly-cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, such; as a bis(indene), indacene, and fused polyarene derivatives, some of them showing strong fluorescence in solution and the solid state.