Novel bifunctional conjugates 1-3, with varying polymethylene spacer groups, were synthesized, and their DNA interactions have been investigated by various biophysical techniques. The absorption spectra of these systems showed bands in the regions of 300-375 and 375-475 nm, corresponding to acridine and acridinium chromophores, respectively. When compared to I (Phi(f) = 0.25), bifunctional derivatives 2 and 3 exhibited quantitative fluorescence yields (Phi(f) = 0.91 and 0.98) and long lifetimes (tau = 38.9 and 33.2 ns). The significant quenching of fluorescence and lifetimes observed in the case of I is attributed to intramolecular electron transfer from the excited state of the acridine chromophore to the acridinium moiety. DNA-binding studies through spectroscopic investigations, viscosity, and thermal denaturation temperature measurements indicate that these systems interact with DNA preferentially through intercalation of the acridinium chromophore and exhibit significant DNA association constants (K-DNA = 10(5)-10(7) M-1). Compound I exhibits chromophore-selective electron-transfer reactions and DNA binding, wherein only the acridinium moiety of I interacts with DNA, whereas optical properties of the acridine chromophore remain unperturbed. Among bifunctional derivatives 2 and 3, the former undergoes DNA mono-intercalation, whereas the latter exhibits bis-intercalation; however both of them interact through mono-intercalation at higher ionic strength. Results of these investigations demonstrate that these novel water-soluble systems, which exhibit quantitative fluorescence yields, chromophore-selective electron transfer, and DNA intercalation, can have potential use as probes in biological applications.