1, 4, 7-Triazacyclononane (TACN), with DNA cleaving ability, was appended to anthraquinone via different spacers to construct the new compounds 1, 8-[2, 2′-(1, 4, 7- triazacyclonon) diethoxy] anthracene-9, 10-dione hydrochloride (1) and 1, 8-[2, 2′-(1, 4, 7- triazacyclonon) dihexyloxy] anthracene-9, 10-dione hydrochloride (2) as new agents for metal-free DNA cleavage. Fluorescence and CD spectroscopic studies suggest an ...