Synthesis of some novel derivatives of 1,10-phenanthroline

The synthesis is described of a set of new N-heterocyclic compounds which a re derivatives of 1,10-phenanthroline. The compounds are designed to be gen eral purpose chelating agents which could function as tri-, tetra- or hexad entate 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 synthesi s of substituted derivatives of pyrazino[2,3-f][1,10]phenanthroline and dip yrido[3,2-a: 2'3'-c]phenazine.