Chiral diruthenium(II) complexes containing a modified 4,4-bipyridine bridging ligand: syntheses, characterization and DNA binding

A pair of novel chiral dimeric ruthenium(II) complexes [ΔΔ-, ΛΛ-Ru(bpy)₂(btpb)Ru(bpy)₂]⁴⁺ (1; btpb=2,2^′-bis(1,2,4-triazino[5,6-f]phenanthren-3-yl)-4,4^′-bipyridine) have been synthesized and characterized by electrospray mass spectra, ¹H NMR, UV-Vis and circular dichroism spectra. Binding behaviors of the complexes with calf thymus DNA have been investigated by absorption spectra and viscosity measurements. The electronic absorption spectrum of ΔΔ-1 at 505.5 nm exhibits hypochromism of about 8.4% and bathochromism of 2.5 nm; ΛΛ-1 at 500.0 nm exhibits hypochromism of about 9.1% and bathochromism of 4.5 nm, respectively. The experiments suggest that ΔΔ-1 and ΛΛ-1 may be bound to DNA by non-intercalating binder.