Electron donor–acceptor compounds 1 (asymmetrical push–pull derivative) and 2 (symmetrical push–pull–push derivative) were studied in which one (push–pull) or two aniline units (push–pull–push) are connected to a biphenyl group via triazole linkers, made by “click” chemistry. Steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopies indicate that highly dipolar charge separated excited states are populated in