The first order rate constants for the dissociation of daunorubicin, doxorubicin, and 1-; 1,4-; 1,5-; and 1,8-; N,N-diethylaminoethylamino-substituted anthraquinones from calf thymus DNA were determined using stopped-flow spectrophotometry. Sodium dodecyl sulphate was used to disrupt the equilibrium. In all cases there was an increase in the rate constant with temperature. The dissociation rate constants at 20°, 25° and 37°, were in the order 1-;>>1,8-;>1,4-;>daunorubicin and doxorubicin > 1,5-disubstituted anthraquinone. The 1,5-disubstituted anthraquinone (VII) thus shows the slowest rate of dissociation from DNA; the DNA complex dissociating more slowly than the DNA complexes of the anthracyclines, daunorubicin and doxorubicin. The result is consistent with the data from computer graphics modelling studies [39] which show that DNA-breathing (transient base pair unstacking) has to occur to allow the docking of the 1,5-disubstituted anthraquinone (VII) into the receptor site. Hence once the 1,5-disubstituted anthraquinone molecule has intercalated into DNA, DNA-breathing is required before dissociation can take place. This is not necessary with the other compounds (though the 1,4-disubstituted anthraquinone (V) can bind in this manner as well). So the very slow dissociation of the DNA/1,5-disubstituted anthraquinone complex relative to that of the DNA complexes of the other compounds examined here, supports the proposed mode of binding [39].