NOVELTY - Non-linear acene derivatives (I) is new.    USE - Non-linear acene derivatives used as charge transport, semiconducting, electrically conducting, photoconducting or light emitting material in an optical, electrooptical, electronic, electroluminescent or photoluminescent components or devices. Components or devices are organic field effect transistors, thin film transistors, integrated circuits, logic circuits, capacitors, radio frequency identification tags, organic light emitting diodes, organic light emitting transistors, flat panel displays, backlights of displays, organic photovoltaic devices, solar cells, laser diodes, photoconductors, photodetectors, electrophotographic devices, electrophotographic recording devices, organic memory devices, sensor devices, charge injection layers, charge transport layers or interlayers in polymer light emitting diodes, organic plasmon-emitting diodes, Schottky diodes, planarizing layers, antistatic films, polymer electrolyte membranes, conducting substrates, conducting patterns, electrode materials in batteries, alignment layers, biosensors, biochips, security markings, security devices, and components or devices for detecting and discriminating DNA sequences (all claimed).    ADVANTAGE - The compounds (I) exhibits good electronic properties, especially high charge carrier mobility, and good processibility, especially a high solubility in organic solvents. It allows improved charge injection into semiconducting layer from source-drain electrodes; has low bandgap, which enable improved light harvesting by the photoactive layer and can lead to higher cell efficiencies; and shows good electronic properties, especially high charge carrier mobility, and good processibility, especially a high solubility in organic solvents.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Non-linear acene derivatives of formula (I) is new.    R1-R8=H, F, Cl, Br, I, CN, 1-20C straight chain, branched or cyclic alkyl, alkoxy, thioalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, alkyl carbonyloxy, alkylcarbonylamido, alkylamidocarbonyl or alkoxycarbonyloxy (optionally substituted by one or more groups L, and one or more non-adjacent CH2 groups are optionally replaced, in each case independently from one another, by -O-, -S-, -NR0-, -SiR0R00-, -CY0=CY00- or -CC- in such a manner that O and/or S atoms are not linked directly to one another, or denote aryl or heteroaryl with 5-20 ring atoms which is optionally substituted by one or more groups L); or    R1+R2, R2+R3, R3+R4, R5+R6, R6+R7, R7+R8=cross-bridged with each other to form 4-40C saturated or unsaturated ring, which is optionally intervened by one or more heteroatoms or groups selected from -O-, -S-, -Se-, -Ge-, -SiR0R00- and N(R raised to x), and which is optionally substituted;    A=Si, C or Ge;    R, R', R''=H, straight-chain, branched or cyclic 1-20C alkyl or alkoxy atoms, straight-chain, branched or cyclic 2-20C alkenyl, straight-chain, branched or cyclic 2-20C alkynyl, straight-chain, branched or cyclic 2-20C alkylcarbonyl, 4-20C aryl or heteroaryl, 4-20C arylalkyl or heteroarylalkyl, 4-20C aryloxy or heteroaryloxy, 4-20C arylalkyloxy or heteroarylalkyloxy (where all groups are optionally substituted with one or more groups L);    L=P'-Sp-, F, Cl, Br, I, -OH, -CN, -NO2, -NCO, -NCS, -OCN, -SCN, -C(=O)NR0R00, -C(=O)X0, -C(=O)R0, -NR0R00, C(=O)OH, optionally substituted 4-20C aryl or heteroaryl, or straight chain, branched or cyclic 1-20, preferably 1-12C alkyl (where one or more non-adjacent CH2 groups are optionally replaced, in each case independently from -O-, -S-, -NR0-, -SiR0R00-, -CY0=CY00- or -CC- in such a manner that O and/or S atoms are not linked directly to one another and which is substituted with one or more F or Cl atoms or OH groups);    P'=polymerizable group;    Sp=spacer group or single bond;    X0=halo;    R raised to x=R1;    R0, R00=H or 1-20C alkyl; and    Y0, Y00=H, F, Cl or CN.    An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for formulation which comprises compounds (I) and one or more organic solvents.