Synthesis, Characterization, DNA Binding, and Photocleavage of [Ru(bpy)2(MFIP)]2+ and [Ru(phen)2(MFIP)]2+
The new ligand 2-(5-methyl-furan-2-yl)imidazo[4,5-f][1, 10]phenanthroline (MFIP) and its complexes [Ru(bpy)2(MFIP)]2+ 1 (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine) and [Ru(phen)2(MFIP)]2+ 2 (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, and 1H NMR spectroscopy. The DNA binding properties of the two complexes were investigated by different spectrophotometric methods and viscosity measurements. The results suggest that both complexes bind to calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) through intercalation, and both complexes can enantioselectively interact with CT-DNA. The Λ enantiomers of both complexes are slightly predominant for binding to CT-DNA over the Δ enantiomer. When irradiated at 400 nm, the two complexes promote the photocleavage of pBR322 DNA, and complex 2 cleaves DNA more effectively than complex 1 under comparable experimental conditions. Furthermore, mechanism studies reveal that singlet oxygen (1O2) plays a significant role in the photocleavage.