Photocontrolled nucleobase binding to an organometallic RuII arene complex

Abstract

The complex [(p-cym)Ru(bpm)(py)][PF(6)](2) (where p-cym = para-cymene, bpm = 2,2'-bipyrimidine and py = pyridine) is the first ruthenium(ii) arene complex that can selectively photodissociate a monodentate ligand (py) when excited with visible light and form a reactive aqua derivative able to bind to a DNA base.