Portland State University was awarded a $490,647 project grant from the National Science Foundation's Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049) to support research on the efficient and mild synthesis of arynes from readily available starting materials. Through this three-year award running from July 2023 to June 2026, the university's researchers will develop new chemical reactions to access highly reactive aryne intermediates using milder conditions and simpler feedstocks. This work aims to expand the functional group compatibility of arynes and diversify aromatic compounds found in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and other materials. The grant will also support course-based undergraduate research experiences to provide STEM training opportunities for students. If successful, the outcomes of this research could provide synthetic chemists new tools to modify aromatic rings in previously impossible ways.