Strong electron donor-acceptor (EDA) association between carbazolo[3,4-c]carbazoles and an optically active tetranitrofluorenone derivative was detected by W-visible spectroscopy and by 'H NMR shifts. 'H NMR splittings at low temperatures are due to diastereomeric association complexes and, thus, prove the chirality of carbazolocarbazoles.[ c Y ]~~~ = -77.1 " ml g-' dm-', (MP)-5,10-Dihydrocarbazoloarbazolo[3,4-E Icarbmole (2). This was synthesized as described p r e v i~u s l y .~
( M P ) -5,lO -Dimethylcarbazolo[3,4-clcarbazole (3).To 380mg (1.2mmol) of 2, dissolved in the minimum amount of dry tetrahydrofuran (THF), were added 630 mg (5.0 mmol) of dimethyl sulphate and 1 ml of 50% NaOH solution in water. The mixture was refluxed