Via Sonogashira cross-coupling with different alkynes, 1,6 and 1,7 perylene diimides (PDIs) and perylene tetracarboxylic dianhydrides (PTCDs) were synthesized from the corresponding regioisomeric mixture of 1,6/1,7-dibromo precursors. Both bulky triphenyl propyne (TPP) groups and nonbulky hexyl groups allow for facile chromatographic separation. The optical properties of these compounds are discussed. Neutral bay substituents hypsochromically shift both the absorption and emission through deformation from planarity of the perylene core.