Synthesis of some novel derivatives of 1,10‐phenanthroline

The synthesis is described of a set of new N ‐heterocyclic compounds which are derivatives of 1,10‐phenanthroline. The compounds are designed to be general purpose chelating agents which could function as tri‐, tetra‐ or hexadentate ligands with transition metal ions. Fused‐ring molecular components have been included in the design of the compounds so that they may function as binding agents to DNA through intercalation. This includes the synthesis of substituted derivatives of pyrazino[2,3‐ f ][1,10]phenanthroline and dipyrido[3,2‐ a :2′3′‐ c ]phenazine.