Templated Ligand Environments for the Selective Incorporation of Different Metals into DNA

Abstract

Each to his own: DNA templates the formation of bis(terpyridine), bis(phenanthroline), and terpyridine:phenanthroline ligand environments, which strongly bind FeII, CuI, and CuII (see picture), respectively, to generate highly stable metal–DNA complexes. When a metal is placed in the “incorrect” environment, it can spontaneously adjust its redox state, be displaced by another metal, or reorganize the coordination site to create a more favored complex.