Synthesis and Photophysics of Dibenz[a,c]phenazine Derivatives

The synthesis of dipolar dibenz[a,c]phenazine (DBP) derivatives is described. The compounds possess little electronic communication between donor and acceptor units in the ground state regardless of the pattern of substitution. The dipolar derivatives deactivate mostly via electron transfer (eT) under polar conditions. Intersystem crossing is likely to compete for S(1) relaxation.