Comparison of Transition Metal-Mediated Oxidation Reactions of Guanine in Nucleoside and Single-Stranded Oligodeoxynucleotide Contexts

Sulfurization of 3-(diphenylphosphinyl)methyl]benzene-1,2-diol 1 produced phosphine sulfide 3. Both ligands reacted easily to form gold(I) and rhodium(I) complexes which were characterized by analytical and spectroscopic data, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Whereas the phosphine prefers to form complexes with a metal-to-ligand ratio of 1:2 with both metals, the phosphine sulfide exhibits a reduced donor power and yields only a 1:1 complex with AuCl. With rhodium(I), formation of a homobimetallic complex with a metal-to-ligand ratio of 2:1 was found. This complex displays an unusual coordination of both metal atoms to the catechol moiety whereas the phosphine sulfide moiety remains inactive.