DNA interaction and photonicking properties of DNA-targeted acridine (2,2′-bipyridine)platinum(II) complexes

Synthesis of two (2,2-bipyridine)platinum(II) complexes tethered to one or two acridine chromophores is reported. These acridine complexes efficiently unwind and photocleave supercoiled plasmid DNA under physiological conditions of temperature and pH. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.