Compressional Behavior of Naphthalene (C ₁₀ H ₈ ) and Anthracene (C ₁₄ H ₁₀ ) up to 50 GPa

' = 8.0(4) for anthracene. Theoretical calculations correctly reproduce experimental data and enable accurate localization of hydrogen atoms. The analysis of Hirshfeld surfaces for both naphthalene and anthracene suggests that the herringbone packing motif of the molecules, the limited contribution of stronger C···C interactions to intermolecular bonding, and the high flexibility of relatively weak H···H interactions allow a gradual compaction of their structures without phase transitions. Our research contributes to the understanding of the compressional mechanisms, bonding evolution, and structural stability of polyaromatic hydrocarbons under compression.