1-[(NO 2 , COOH)-substituted phenyl]-3,5-diphenylformazans were synthesized. The compounds were characterized by infrared (IR), ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis), 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), 13 C NMR spectra, elemental analysis, and cyclic voltammetry. From the UV-vis spectra of substituted formazans it was seen that k max values were shorter than the k max value of unsubstituted formazan. It was observed that the shift values were dependent on the type and position of the substituents. A correlation between Hammett substituent coefficients and k max values was obtained. The oxidation peak potentials of substituted formazans were found more anodic than that of unsubstituted formazan. The oxidation mechanism was a single step for the NO 2 -substituted formazans, and two steps for COOH-substituted formazans.