Abstract: Novel diazaanthracenes of formula wherein the dotted line in the central ring indicates that either the central ring is aromatically unsaturated, and in this case either R.sup.3 or H is absent from the 10-position and either R.sup.4 or H is absent from the 5-position, or the central ring is saturated and R.sup.3 and H and R.sup.4 and H are present, and the corresponding 5,10-diones, N-oxides, N-halides, N-amine, salts, dimers, Diels-Alder adducts, carbene adducts and complexes with transition metal compounds display valuable antibacterial, anticancer and antifungal properties. The compounds of formulae (I) and (II) in which R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are both methyl groups can be obtained by subjecting 3,5-lutidine to the effect of a strong reducing agent, for example molten sodium.