Synthesis and DNA Cleavage Properties of Triazacrown Derivatives

New metal‐free DNA cleaving reagent 1 , 1,4,7‐triazacrown (TACN) both with aminoethyl, hydroxyethyl side arms and a planar anthraquinone linked by an alkyl (1,6‐hexamethylene) spacer has been synthesized and characterized by NMR and MS spectrometry. For comparison, the corresponding aminoethyl, hydroxyethyl triazacrown derivative 2 without the anthraquinone has also been synthesized. DNA‐binding properties via fluorescence and CD spectroscopy indicate that the binding affinity of 1 with DNA is much stronger than that of 2 . Agarose gel electrophoresis was used to assess plasmid pUC19 DNA cleavage. Kinetic data of DNA cleavage promoted by 1 , 2 and parent triazacrown (TACN) 3 under physiological condition give the 15‐fold and 234‐fold rate acceleration of compound 1 over 2 and parent triazacrown 3 . Radical scavenger inhibition study suggests that DNA cleavage promoted by 1 may be a non‐oxidative pathway through the transphosphorylation and then hydrolysis. The dramatic rate acceleration is due not only to the anthraquinone moiety of compound 1 intercalating into DNA base pairs via stacking interaction, but also the cooperative catalysis of the nucleophilic hydroxyl and the electrophilic ammonium group for the cleavage of phosphodiester of DNA.