[Ru(bpy)2tpphz]2+与Zn2+形成的双核配合物的荧光性质研究

The formation of heterobimetallic ruthenium(Ⅱ) complex was investigated by absorption and emission spectra. As an intercalator of DNA， the luminescent monometallic ruthenium(Ⅱ) complex [Ru(bpy)₂tpphz]²⁺ could coor-dinate with Zn²⁺ to form the nonluminescent heterobimetallic complex [Ru(bpy)₂(tpphz)Zn]⁴⁺. The emission in-tensity of complex decreased as increasing the amounts of Zn²⁺ and the luminescence was almost lost at the ratio of [Zn]/[Ru] of 1. After binding to DNA， the peripheral coordination site on the tpphz ligand remained accessible for Zn²⁺， the coordination occurred from the oppsite side of helix with respect to intercalated [Ru(bpy)₂tpphz]²⁺ and the nonluminescent heterobimetallic complex was formed. On the other hand， the [Ru(bpy)₂(tpphz)Zn]⁴⁺ also bound to DNA by intercalation and situated the region of the intercalated [Ru(bpy)₂tpphz]²⁺ between the base pairs of DNA. The complex looked like a molecular nut (the Zn²⁺) and bolt (the [Ru(bpy)₂tpphz]²⁺).     

一个嫁接有羧酸羟基乙基酯的二吡啶吩嗪Ru(II)配合物的合成、与DNA的相互作用以及溶剂变色性质的研究

合成并表征了一个新的Ru(II)配合物[Ru(bpy)₂(hedppc)](ClO₄)₂ {bpy＝2,2'-联吡啶, hedppc＝二联吡啶[3,2-a: 2',3'-c]吩嗪-11-羧酸(2-羟乙基)酯}. 通过紫外-可见吸收光谱、与溴化乙锭竞争实验、粘度测量和DNA裂解实验研究了配合物与小牛胸腺DNA的相互作用性质. 结果表明配合物以插入模式与DNA键合，键合常数K_b＝(6.99±1.34)×10⁶ mol^－1•L (s＝2.03±0.04)与母体配合物[Ru(bpy)₂ (dppz)]^2＋相近，但光致发光和溶剂变色等光学性质与[Ru(bpy)₂ (dppz)]^2＋有明显的差别.     

由六亚甲基四胺和柔性芳香羧酸构筑的两个一维配位聚合物的合成及晶体结构

利用六亚甲基四胺分别与苯氧乙酸、Cu(NO₃)₂·3H₂O及2,4-二氯苯氧乙酸、Zn(NO₃)₂·6H₂O反应,得到了2个新的一维配位聚合物,{[Cu₂(pa)₄](μ₂-hmt)}_n(1)和{{{[Zn₃(dcpa)₄(OH)]₂(μ₂-dcpa)₂}(μ₂-hmt)}·5H₂O}_n(2)(Hpa=苯氧乙酸,Hdcpa=2,4-二氯苯氧乙酸,hmt=六亚甲基四胺)。2个配合物均用元素分析、红外光谱、X射线单晶衍射及差热分析进行了表征。晶体结构分析表明,在配合物1中,4个苯氧乙酸根桥联2个Cu²⁺形成[Cu₂(COO)₄]双核结构,相邻的[Cu₂(COO)₄]双核单元由六亚甲基四胺桥联成一维的"zigzag"链;在配合物2中,6个2,4-二氯苯氧乙酸根和2个OH^-桥联6个Zn²⁺形成六核{[Zn₃(dcpa)₄(μ₃-OH)]₂(μ₂-dcpa)₂}结构单元,然后相邻的六核单元由2个六亚甲基四胺桥联成一维双链结构。     

竞争配位合成的2-硝基苯甲酸根保护的一维Co(Ⅱ)/Zn(Ⅱ)配合物

分别以乙酰丙酮钴Co(acac)₃和乙酰丙酮锌Zn(acac)₂为前驱体,2-硝基苯甲酸(2-nbaH)为配体,在甲苯中进行溶剂热反应,得到了3种一维配合物[Co(H₂O)(2-nba)₂]_n(Co-1)、[Co₃(2-nba)₄(acac)₂]_n(Co-2)和[Zn₂(2-nba)₄]_n(Zn-3)。对配合物进行了元素分析、红外光谱、单晶X射线衍射和紫外可见漫反射表征。在配合物Co-1中,每个Co²⁺离子与2个桥联水分子和4个2-nba^-离子配位,形成八面体构型。当2-nba^-不足时,前驱体中的配体acac^-会与Co²⁺成键,得到局部结构不同的一维配合物Co-2。最突出的是,Co-2中三分之二的Co²⁺离子呈现三角双锥构型,而另外三分之一的Co²⁺离子与Co-1相似。Co配合物的合成方法也成功地应用于Zn(acac)₂,得到了一维zigzag形的配合物Zn-3。配合物Zn-3中,Zn²⁺离子表现为仅由2-nba^-保护的{ZnO₄}四面体构型。研究表明,2-nba^-与acac^-的竞争配位可以显著影响Co²⁺离子的配位环境。     

基于四核金属单元的锌/镉配合物的合成、晶体结构及荧光性质

在水热条件下合成了2个金属配合物Zn₄(Hhpa)₄(phen)₄(1)和{[Cd₈(cnam)₂(bpy)₄(C₂O₄)₆(H₂O)₈]·2H₂O}_n(2)(H₂hpa=2-羟基间苯二甲酸,phen=菲咯啉,H₂cnam=4-氧代-4H-吡喃-2,6-二甲酸,bpy=2,2'-联吡啶),通过元素分析、红外光谱、X-射线单晶衍射、荧光、热重分析和X-射线粉末衍射对其进行表征。配合物1为环状四核锌结构,相邻的四核锌单元通过π…π堆积作用扩展为三维超分子结构;配合物2是基于四核镉单元通过C₂O₄^2-离子和cnam^2-配体连接而成的三维网状结构。在配合物1和2中Hhpa^2-,cnam^2-和C₂O₄^2-离子表现了丰富的配位模式。此外还研究了配合物1和2的荧光性质和热稳定性。     

钌(Ⅱ)配合物[Ru(dpq)2L]4+的合成、晶体结构及与G-四链体DNA的相互作用

以cis-[Ru(dpq)₂Cl₂]·2H₂O(dpq=二吡啶[3,2-d:2',3'-f]二氮萘)为原料与5,5'-二(1-(三乙胺)甲基)-2,2'-联吡啶阳离子(L)合成钌(Ⅱ)配合物[Ru(dpq)₂L](PF₆)₄,并研究了该配合物与G-四链体DNA的作用:FRET实验表明,配合物对人端粒DNA h-telo具有选择性,其作用能力要强于同癌基因启动子区域的四链DNA,如c-myc和bcl2;CD光谱表明,在Na⁺和K⁺都不存在的情况下,配合物能诱导h-telo形成平行结构;此外,紫外和发射光谱都显示,配合物在K⁺溶液中与h-telo的作用力要大于在Na⁺溶液中的。     

由六亚甲基四胺和柔性芳香羧酸构筑的两个一维配位聚合物的合成及晶体结构

利用六亚甲基四胺分别与苯氧乙酸、Cu(NO₃)₂·3H₂O及2,4-二氯苯氧乙酸、Zn(NO₃)₂·6H₂O反应,得到了2个新的一维配位聚合物,{[Cu₂(pa)₄](μ₂-hmt)}_n (1)和{{{[Zn₃(dcpa)₄(OH)]₂(μ₂-dcpa)₂}(μ₂-hmt)}·5H₂O}_n (2)(Hpa=苯氧乙酸,Hdcpa=2,4-二氯苯氧乙酸,hmt=六亚甲基四胺)。2个配合物均用元素分析、红外光谱、X射线单晶衍射及差热分析进行了表征。晶体结构分析表明,在配合物1中,4个苯氧乙酸根桥联2个Cu²⁺形成[Cu₂(COO)₄]双核结构,相邻的[Cu₂(COO)₄]双核单元由六亚甲基四胺桥联成一维的"zigzag"链;在配合物2中,6个2,4-二氯苯氧乙酸根和2个OH-桥联6个Zn²⁺形成六核{[Zn₃(dcpa)₄(μ₃-OH)]₂(μ₂-dcpa)₂}结构单元,然后相邻的六核单元由2个六亚甲基四胺桥联成一维双链结构。     

3，4-二甲氧基苯乙酸邻菲咯啉锌配合物的合成及与DNA作用

以3,4-二甲氧基苯乙酸(HDMPA,C₁₀H₁₂O₄)为第一配体,邻菲咯啉(phen)为第二配体,Zn(OH)₂为金属源合成了配合物[Zn(DMPA)₂(phen)]·6H₂O,并通过元素分析、红外光谱、摩尔电导对其进行表征及研究,用单晶X-射线衍射方法测定了配合物的晶体结构。配合物属于单斜晶系,空间群C2/c,晶胞参数：a=2.047 29(4) nm,b=1.006 19(2) nm,c=1.812 94(4) nm,β=112.986 0(10)°,晶胞体积：V=3.438 06(12) nm³,晶胞内结构基元数Z=4,式量M_r=744.05。在配合物中,中心金属锌(Ⅱ)离子与2个二甲氧基苯乙酸根离子中的2个氧原子和1个邻菲咯啉中的2个氮原子配位,配位数为4。用溴化乙锭荧光探针法测试了配合物与DNA的作用,结果表明标题配合物具有较强的插入作用。     

一种含吲哚咪唑基Ru(II)配合物的酸碱性质和与DNA相互作用的研究

合成了一个新的Ru(II)配合物[Ru(bpy)₂(H₂iip)](ClO₄)₂•5H₂O [bpy＝2,2'-联吡啶, H₂iip＝2-吲哚基-咪唑并[4,5-ƒ][1,10]-邻菲罗啉]. 通过酸碱滴定发射光谱测定了该配合物的表观电离常数; 用紫外可见光谱、荧光光谱、稳态荧光淬灭、溴化乙锭竞争键合、粘度测量和DNA裂解实验研究了配合物与DNA的相互作用性质. 结果表明配合物以经典的插入模式与DNA键合, 键合常数K_b＝(5.97±0.27)×10⁵ mol^－1•L (50 mmol/L NaCl).     

不同配体对钌多吡啶配合物与DNA的作用和荧光性质的影响

Two polypyridyl ligands DCHIP (2-hydro-3，5-dichlorophenyl-imidazo[4，5-f][1，10] phenanthroline)，MDHIP(2，4-dihydrophenyl-imidazo[4，5-f][1，10]phenanthroline) and their ruthenium(Ⅱ) complexes [Ru(phen)₂MDHIP]²⁺ and [Ru(phen)₂DCHIP]²⁺ were prepared. Their DNA-binding properties were studied by spectroscopic methods and viscosity measurements. The results indicated that the complexes both bound to DNA by partial intercalation mode， but [Ru(phen)₂DCHIP]²⁺ exhibited stronger binding affinity for DNA than [Ru(phen)₂MDHIP]²⁺ due to the different planarities and steric effects of ligands. On the other hand， after binding to DNA， the fluorescence intensity of [Ru(phen)₂MDHIP]²⁺ decreased， while the fluorescence intensity of [Ru(phen)₂ DCHIP]²⁺ increased.     

新型双核配合物的形成及荧光性质研究

利用光谱学方法研究了[Ru(bpy)2TPPHZ]2+(TPPHZ=四吡啶[3,2-a: 2',3'-c: 3",2"-h: 2'",3'"-j]吩嗪)和[Ru(bpy)2ODHIP]2+(ODHIP=3,4-二羟基-咪唑并[4,5-f][1,10]邻菲咯啉)与Ni2+的配位情况及配位后的荧光性质变化, 探讨了配合物与Ni2+配位形成双核配合物后与DNA的作用机制变化. 结果表明, [Ru(bpy)2TPPHZ]2+和[Ru(bpy)2ODHIP]2+均可与Ni2+配位, 形成双核配合物[Ru(bpy)2(TPPHZ)Ni]4+和[Ru(bpy)2(ODHIP)Ni]4+, 配合物的荧光强度随着Ni2+浓度的增加而减弱. 与DNA作用后, 配合物仍可与Ni2+配位形成双核配合物, [Ru(bpy)2(TPPHZ)Ni]4+的荧光几乎完全消失, 同时配合物与DNA保持插入模式作用, 而配合物[Ru(bpy)2(ODHIP)Ni]4+与DNA的作用则由沟面结合改为插入结合, 同时配合物的荧光减弱.     

[Ru(bpy)_2tpphz]~(2+)与Zn~(2+)形成的双核配合物的荧光性质研究

近年来,钌多吡啶配合物与DNA的作用得到了比较广泛的研究,并且发展了一系列具有特定功能的钌配合物犤1犦。如传统的DNA分子光开关犤Ru(bpy)2dppz犦2+和犤Ru(phen)2dppz犦2+犤2,3犦(bpy=2,2'-联吡啶,phen=1,10-菲咯啉,dppz=二吡啶犤3,2-a:2',3'-c犦吩嗪)。这些配合物与DNA具有较强的结合力,在水溶液中几乎不发光,但在DNA存在下则有强烈荧光发出。这是由于配合物插入DNA的碱基对之后,保护了dppz的吡嗪环上的N原子,使其免受水分子的进攻从而导致配合物荧光的恢复。但是对于大多数的多吡啶钌配合物来讲,由于其自身较强的背景荧光或与DN…     

Comparison of the binding stoichiometries of positively charged DNA-binding drugs using positive and negative ion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Positive and negative ion electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectra of complexes of positively charged small molecules (distamycin, Hoechst 33258, [Ru(phen)2dpq]Cl2 and [Ru(phen)2dpqC]Cl2) have been compared. [Ru(phen)2dpq]Cl2 and [Ru(phen)2dpqC]Cl2 bind to DNA by intercalation. Negative ion ESI mass spectra of mixtures of [Ru(phen)2dpq]Cl2 or [Ru(phen)2dpqC]Cl2 with DNA showed ions from DNA-ligand complexes consistent with solution studies. In contrast, only ions from free DNA were present in positive ion ESI mass spectra of mixtures of [Ru(phen)2dpq]Cl2 or [Ru(phen)2dpqC]Cl2 with DNA, highlighting the need for obtaining ESI mass spectra of non-covalent complexes under a range of experimental conditions. Negative ion spectra of mixtures of the minor groove binder Hoechst 33258 with DNA containing a known minor groove binding sequence were dominated by ions from a 1:1 complex. In contrast, in positive ion spectra there were also ions present from a 2:1 (Hoechst 33258: DNA) complex, suggesting an alternative binding mode was possible either in solution or in the gas phase. When Hoechst 33258 was mixed with a DNA sequence lacking a high affinity minor groove binding site, the negative ion ESI mass spectra showed that 1:1 and 2:1 complexes were formed, consistent with existence of binding modes other than minor groove binding. The data presented suggest that comparison of positive and negative ion ESI-MS spectra might provide an insight into various binding modes in both solution and the gas phase.     

Non-covalent DNA binding and cytotoxicity of certain mixed-ligand ruthenium(II) complexes of 2,2'-dipyridylamine and diimines

A series of mixed ligand ruthenium(II) complexes [Ru(Hdpa)2(diimine)](ClO4)2, 1-5 where Hdpa is 2,2'-dipyridylamine and diimine is 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) and a modified/extended 1,10-phenanthroline such as, 5,6-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (5,6-dmp), dipyrido[3,2-d:2',3'-f]quinoxaline (dpq), 5-methyldipyrido[3,2-d:2',3'-f]quinoxaline (mdpq) and dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine (dppz) have been isolated and characterized by analytical and spectral methods. The complex [Ru(Hdpa)2(phen)](PF6)2 1 has been structurally characterized and the coordination geometry around Ru(II) in it is described as distorted octahedral. 1H NMR spectral data reveal that 1-5 should have a C2 symmetry lying on the diimine plane due to the rapid flapping of the coordinated Hdpa ligands. The interaction of the complexes with calf thymus (CT) DNA has been explored by using absorption and emission spectral and viscometry and electrochemical techniques and the mode of DNA binding of the complexes has been proposed. The DNA binding affinity of the complexes decreases with decrease in number of planar aromatic rings in the co-ligand supporting the intercalation of the diimine co-ligands in between the DNA base pairs. Circular dichroic spectral studies reveal that the complexes 3-5 exhibit induced circular dichroism upon binding to CT DNA. Interestingly, upon interaction with CT DNA all the complexes show an increase in anodic current in the cyclic voltammograms suggesting that they are involved in electrocatalytic guanine oxidation. Interestingly, of all the complexes, only 5 alters the DNA superhelicity upon binding with supercoiled pBR322 DNA, which is consistent with its higher DNA binding affinity. Further, the cytotoxicities of the complexes against human cervical epidermoid carcinoma cell line (ME180) have been examined. Interestingly, 5 exhibits a cytotoxicity against ME180 higher than other complexes with potency approximately 8 times more than cisplatin for 24 h incubation but 4 times lower than cisplatin for 48 h incubation.     

Synthesis and spectroscopic DNA binding studies of homoleptic and heteroleptic ruthenium(II) complexes with imidazo[4,5-f] [1,10]phenanthroline or its derivatives

Two series of new complexes, [Ru(phen)2L]2+ and [RuL3]2+, where phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, and L denotes imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline (IP) or 2-(4-R-phenyl)imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline(PIP, R = H; HOP, R = –OH; MOP, R = –OMe; DMNP, R = NMe2; CLP, R = Cl; NOP, R = NO2), were synthesized and characterized. Their binding to calf thymus DNA was investigated using electronic absorption and emission spectroscopy. [Ru(IP)3]2+ and each [Ru(phen)2 L]2+ showed dramatic absorption hypochromism and bathochromicity, as well as steady-state emission intensity and excited-state lifetime enhancements {except nonluminescent [Ru(phen)2NOP]2+} associated with the presence of DNA, inferring that they bind to DNA by intercalation. These phenomena were not observed for [RuL3]2+ type complexes (except L = IP), indicating that they bind to DNA at most through electrostatic interactions.     

Ruthenium(II) complexes of redox-related, modified dipyridophenazine ligands: synthesis, characterization, and DNA interaction

The synthesis, spectral characterization, and electrochemical properties of [Ru(phen)2(qdppz)]2+, which incorporates a quinone-fused dipyridophenazine ligand (naphtho[2,3-a]dipyrido[3,2-h:2',3'-f]phenazine-5,18-dione, qdppz), are described in detail. Chemical or electrochemical reduction of [Ru(phen)2(qdppz)]2+ leads to the generation of [Ru(phen)2(hqdppz)](2+)--a complex containing the hydroquinone form (hqdppz = 5,18-dihydroxynaphtho[2,3-a]-dipyrido[3,2-h:2',3'-f]phenazine) of qdppz. Absorption and viscometric titration, thermal denaturation, topoisomerase assay, and differential-pulse voltammetric studies reveal that [Ru(phen)2(qdppz)]2+ is an avid binder of calf-thymus DNA due to a strong intercalation by the ruthenium-bound qdppz, while [Ru(phen)2(hqdppz)]2+ binds to DNA less strongly than the parent "quinone"-containing complex. DNA-photocleavage efficiencies of these complexes also follow a similar trend in that the MLCT-excited state of [Ru(phen)2(qdppz)]2+ is more effective than that of [Ru(phen)2(hqdppz)]2+ in cleaving the supercoiled plasmid pBR 322 DNA (lambda exc = 440 +/- 5 nm), as revealed by the results of agarose gel electrophoresis experiments. The photochemical behaviors of both the quinone- and hydroquinone-appended ruthenium(II) complexes in the presence of DNA not only provide valuable insights into their modes of binding with the duplex but also lead to detailed investigations of their luminescence properties in nonaqueous, aqueous, and aqueous micellar media. On the basis of the results obtained, (i) a photoinduced electron transfer from the MLCT state to the quinone acceptor in Ru(phen)2(qdppz)]2+ and (ii) quenching of the excited states due to proton transfer from water to the dipyridophenazine ligand in both complexes are invoked to rationalize the apparent lack of emission of these redox-related complexes in the DNA medium.     

Synthesis,characterization, and DNA binding of ruthenium(II) complexes with 2-benzo[b] furan-2-yl-1H-imidazo[4,5f][1,10]phenanthroline as an intercalative ligand

DNA-binding properties of a number of ruthenium complexes with different polypyridine ligands are reported. The new polypyridine ligand BFIP (=2-benzo[b] furan-2-yl-1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline) and its ruthenium complexes [Ru(bpy)₂BFIP]²⁺ (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine), [Ru(dmb)₂BFIP]²⁺ (dmb = 4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine), and [Ru(phen)₂BFIP]²⁺ (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, mass spectra, IR, UV-Vis, ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR, and cyclic voltammetry. The DNA binding of these complexes to calf-thymus DNA (CT-DNA) was investigated by spectrophotometric, fluorescence, and viscosity measurements. The results suggest that ruthenium(II) complexes bind to CT-DNA through intercalation. Photocleavage of pBR 322 DNA by these complexes was also studied, and [Ru(phen)₂BFIP]²⁺ was found to be a much better photocleavage agent than the other two complexes.     

Ruthenium(II) complexes of 6,7-dicyanodipyridoquinoxaline: synthesis, luminescence studies, and DNA interaction

The hexaflurophosphate and chloride salts of a series of ruthenium(II) complexes incorporating a new dipyridophenazine-based ligand, dicnq (6,7-dicyanodipyrido[2,2-d:2',3'-f]quinoxaline), are synthesized in good-to-moderate yields. These mono ([Ru(phen)2(dicnq)]2+; phen = 1,10-phenanthroline), bis ([Ru(phen)(dicnq)2]2+), and tris ([Ru(dicnq)3]2+) complexes are fully characterized by elemental analysis, infrared, FAB-MS, 1H NMR, and cyclic voltammetric methods. Results of absorption titration and thermal denaturation studies reveal that these complexes are moderately strong binders of calf-thymus (CT) DNA, with their binding constants spanning the range (1-3) x 10(4) M-1. On the other hand, under the identical set of experimental conditions of light and drug dose, the DNA (pBR 322)-photocleavage abilities of these ruthenium(II) complexes follow the order [Ru(phen)2(dicnq)]2+ > [Ru(phen)(dicnq)2]2+ > [Ru(dicnq)3]2+, an order which is the same as that observed for their MLCT emission quantum yields. Steady-state emission studies carried out in nonaqueous solvents and in aqueous media with or without DNA reveal that while [Ru(dicnq)3]2+ is totally nonemissive under these solution conditions, both [Ru(phen)2(dicnq)]2+ and [Ru(phen)(dicnq)2]2+ are luminescent and function as "molecular light switches" for DNA. Successive addition of CT DNA to buffered aqueous solutions containing the latter two complexes results in an enhancement of the emission in each case, with the enhancement factors at saturation being approximately 16 and 8 for [Ru(phen)2(dicnq)]2+ and [Ru(phen)(dicnq)2]2+, respectively. These results are discussed in light of the relationship between the structure-specific deactivations of the MLCT excited states of these metallointercalators and the characteristic features of their DNA interactions, and attempts are made to compare and contrast their properties with those of analogous dipyridophenazine-based complexes, including the ones reported in the preceding paper.     

Mixed ligand ruthenium(II) complexes of bis(pyrid-2-yl)-/bis(benzimidazol-2-yl)-dithioether and diimines: study of non-covalent DNA binding and cytotoxicity

A series of mixed ligand ruthenium(II) complexes [Ru(pdto)(diimine)](ClO4)2/(PF6)2 1-3 and [Ru(bbdo)(diimine)](ClO4), 4-6, where pdto is 1,8-bis(pyrid-2-yl)-3,6-dithiooctane, bbdo is 1,8-bis(benzimidazol-2-yl)-3,6-dithiooctane and diimine is 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), dipyrido-[3,2-d:2',3'-f]-quinoxaline (dpq) and dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine (dppz), have been isolated and characterised by analytical and spectral methods. The complexes [Ru(pdto)(phen)](PF6)2 la, [Ru(pdto)(dpq)(Cl](PF6) 2a, [Ru(bbdo)(phen)](PF6)2 4a and [Ru(bbdo)(dpq)](ClO4)2 5 have been structurally characterized and their coordination geometries around ruthenium(II) are described as distorted octahedral. In la, 4a and 5 the two thioether sulfur and two py/bzim nitrogen atoms of the tetradentate pdto/bbdo ligand are folded around Ru(II) to give predominantly a "cis-alpha" configuration. (I)H NMR spectral data of the complexes support this configuration in solution. In [Ru(pdto)(dpq)Cl](PF6) 2a with a distorted octahedral coordination geometry, one of the two py nitrogens of pdto is not coordinated. The DNA binding constants (Kb: 2, 2.00 +/- 0.02 x 10(4) M(-1), s = 1.0; 3, 3.00 +/- 0.01 x 10(6) M(-1), s = 1.3) determined by absorption spectral titrations of the complexes with CT DNA reveal that 3 interacts with DNA more tightly than 2 through partial intercalation of the extended planar ring of coordinated dppz with the DNA base stack. The DNA binding affinities of the complexes increase with increase in the number of planar aromatic rings in the co-ligand, and on replacing both the py moieties in pdto complexes (1-3) by bzim moieties to give bbdo complexes (4-6). Upon interaction with CT DNA the complexes 1, 2, 5 and 6 show a decrease in anodic current in the cyclic voltammograms. On the other hand, interestingly, 3 and 4 show an increase in anodic current suggesting their involvement in electrocatalytic guanine oxidation. Interestingly, of all the complexes, only 6 alters the superhelicity of DNA upon binding with supercoiled pBR322 DNA. The cytotoxicities of the dppz complexes 3 and 6, which avidly bind to DNA, have been examined by screening them against cell lines of different cancer origins. It is noteworthy that 6 exhibits selectivity with higher cytotoxicity against the melanoma cancer cell line (A375) than other cell lines, potency approximately twice that of cisplatin and toxicity to normal cells 3 and 90 times less than cisplatin and adriamycin respectively.