The 2,7-diazapyrenium group (DAP2+) combines the features of pyrene, of methylviologen, and of nucleicacid intercalators and may thus present a variety of interesting properties. The cations 1 and 2 and the bis-diazapyrenium species 3 have been synthesized and shown to bind molecular anions like aromatic polycarboxylates, giving rise to pronounced shifts of 'H-NMR signals, modifications of UVjVIS absorption spectra, and quenching of fluorescence. The complexes formed probably have a face-to-face structure, and their stability constants are remarkably high, in particular for the bis-diazapyrenium cation 3 which is susceptible to form intercalative chelate complexes such as 9 (log K, B 3 for 1, up to ca. 7 or more for 3a). Neutral molecules like adenine are also bound, but much less strongly. Visible-light irradiation of Me,DAP2+ (1) in presence of various electron donors, such as EDTA, gives the reduced species Me2DAP+' wich has been characterized by UVjVIS and ESR spectroscopy. The results indicate that Me2DAP2+ (1) functions as a methylviologen analogue, photoactive in visible light. Thus 2,7-diazapyrenium cations are attractive subunits for incorporation into macropolycyclic structures to give photoand electroactive receptor molecules.