Quantitative analysis of the effect of derivatisation of [Ru(BPY) phen] with a quinoline moiety on the interaction with DNA

The bifunctional Ru(II) complex [Ru(BPY)2POQ-Nmet]2+ (1), in which the metallic unit is tethered by an aliphatic chain to an organic DNA binder, was designed in order to increase the affinity toward nucleic acids. The interaction of 1 with DNA was characterised from luminescence and absorption data and compared with the binding of its monofunctional metallic and organic analogues, [Ru(BPY)2(ac)phen]2+ (2) and Nmet-quinoline (3). The bifunctional complex has a binding affinity one order of magnitude higher than that of each of its separated moieties. Absorption changes induced upon addition of DNA at different pH indicate protonation of the organic sub-unit upon interaction with DNA under neutral conditions. The combination of the luminescence data under steady-state and time-resolved conditions shows that the attachment of the organic unit in 1 induces modifications of the association modes of the metallic unit, owing to the presence of the aliphatic chain which probably hinders the metallic moiety binding. The salt dependence of the binding constants was analysed in order to compare the thermodynamic parameters describing the association with DNA for each complex. This study demonstrates the interest of the derivatisation of a Ru(II) complex with an organic moiety (ia the bifunctional ligand POQ-Nmet) for the development of high affinity DNA probes or photoreactive agents.

A new bifunctional para-toluenesulfonamidophenanthroline-aminoquinoline ligand. Synthesis and characterisation of the corresponding Ru(II) complex

The synthesis and characterisation of a new bifunctional Ru(II) complex are presented. This compound contains a metallic unit, photo-reactive versus the guanines of DNA, and a new bifunctional ligand. An intramolecular luminescence quenching makes this complex an attractive candidate for photoprobing DNA where the intramolecular quenching process is inhibited with restoration of luminescence. © 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.

Photophysics of bifunctional Ru(II) complexes bearing an aminoquinoline organic unit. Potential new photoprobes and photoreagents of DNA

[Ru(BPY)2POQ-Nmet]2+ and [Ru(TAP)2POQ-Nmet]2+ (1 and 3) are bifunctional complexes composed of a metallic unit linked by a flexible chain to an organic unit. They have been prepared as photoprobes or photoreagents of DNA. In this work, the spectroscopic properties of these bifunctional complexes in the absence of DNA are compared with those of the monofunctional analogues [Ru(BPY)2Phen]2+, [Ru-(BPY)2acPhen]2+, [Ru(TAP)2Phen]2+, and [Ru(TAP)2acPhen]2+ (2 and 4). The electrospray mass spectrometry and absorption data show that the quinoline moiety exists in the protonated and nonprotonated form. Although the bifunctional complex containing 2,2′-bipyridine (BPY) ligands exhibits photophysical properties similar to those of the monofunctional compounds, the bifunctional complex with 1,4,5,8-tetraazaphenanthrene (TAP) ligands behaves quite differently. It has weaker relative emission quantum yields and shorter luminescence lifetimes than the monofunctional TAP analogue when the quinoline unit is nonprotonated. This indicates an efficient intramolecular quenching of the 3MLCT (metal to ligand charge transfer) excited state of the TAP metallic moiety. When the organic unit is protonated, there is no internal quenching. In organic solvent, the nonquenched excited metallic unit (bearing a protonated quinoline) and the quenched one (bearing a nonprotonated organic unit) are in slow equilibrium as compared to the lifetime of the two emitters. In aqueous solution this equilibrium is faster and is catalysed by the presence of phosphate buffer. Flash photolysis experiments suggest that the intramolecular quenching process originates from a photoinduced electron transfer from the nonprotonated quinoline to the excited Ru(TAP)2 2+ moiety.

Photophysics of Re(I) and Ru(II) diimine complexes covalently linked to pyrene: Contributions from intra-ligand charge transfer states

The photophysical properties of Ru(II) and Re(I) polypyridyl complexes including a bis-bipyridyl pyrene ligand are presented. The complexes ([(bpy)(2)Ru](2)bpb)(4+) and [(CO)(3)ReCl(bpb)] (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, bpb = 1,6-bis-(4-(2,2'-bipyrid-yl)-pyrene) were designed with the intent of examining intramolecular energy migration between MLCT states localized on the metal complexes and pyrene-localized (3)(pi-pi) states. Absorption spectroscopy of both complexes containing the bpb ligand reveals that in addition to the MLCT and the pyrene-centered (1)(pi-pi) transitions, a new absorption band is observed near 400 nm for both complexes. Absorption spectral data for the Re(I) complex strongly suggest the presence of a pyrene(pi) to bpy(pi) intraligand charge transfer (ILCT) transition. Emission spectra at room temperature and at 77 K are almost identical for the Ru(II) and Re(I) complexes containing the bpb ligand. The (3)MLCT emission of related bipyridyl compounds lacking the pyrene is observed at higher energy than for the pyrene-containing complexes, ([(bpy)(2)Ru](2)bpb)(4+) and [(CO(3)ReCl(bpb)]. The Ru(II) complex emits at room temperature with a remarkably long lifetime (130 micros in degassed DMSO). This emission is also strongly sensitive to oxygen and is almost entirely quenched in an aerated solution. In addition, excited-state absorption spectra exhibit features not consistent with (3)MLCT or (3)(pi-pi) states of the parent chromophores. The combined characteristics suggest the emission arises from either (3)(pi-pi) or (3)ILCT states or a state with mixed parentage.