unambiguously been assigned by 2D-NMR spectroscopy. They indicate a remarkable charge distribution, as most of the negative charge is localized on the ‘anthracenic’ moiety, while the ‘phenanthrenic’ moiety is almost neutral. Association of 12− with alkali-metal counterions has only a minor effect on the chemical shifts. The charge partitioning in 12−, which is reproduced by ωβ calculations in the frame of