Some Pt(II)-complexes with dpb,Fdpb and F2dpb ligands as potent anticancer agents and their mode of interaction with AT/GC base pairs: A DFT study

In recent years, various Pt(II) metal complexes with N-based intercalating tridentate ligands, such as dpb, Fdpb, and F₂dpb, have been developed which exhibit strong anticancer properties because they effectively bind with DNA nucleobase pairs. Past literature has also revealed that the anticancer activity of such square planer Pt(II)-complexes is fully controlled by the presence of halide groups (viz., –F, -Cl and –I) which are directly attached to the Pt(II) ion or tridentate ligands. The proper active sites within Pt(II)-complexes and the role of Pt-X bond may also theoretically be determined by using a molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) map diagram. Moreover, the quantum mechanical TD-DFT (Time-dependent density-functional theory) method is quite useful for predicting the theoretical UV–Vis spectra for such Pt(II)-complexes, during interaction with AT/GC base pairs. The density-functional theory (DFT) is one of the low-cost theoretical methods which is also a useful tool for investigating the various binding modes for anticancer agents with DNA nucleobases. In this current study, we aim to analyze the proper interaction between some dpb-based Pt(II)-complexes as potent anticancer agents with AT/GC base pairs.