New 3 H-pyrazolo[4,3- a]acridine derivatives have been prepared by the reaction of 1-alkyl-5-nitro-1 H-indazole with phenylacetonitrile and 2-(4-bromophenyl)acetonitrile in basic conditions via the nucleophilic substitution of hydrogen and concomitant cyclisation. The new compounds exhibited potent antibacterial activities and their antibacterial activities against Gram positive ( Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin resistant S. aureus and Bacillus subtilis) and Gram negative bacterial ( Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli) species were determined. The fluorescence properties of these derivatives were also studied.