Phenol quaternary ammonium derivatives: charge and linker effect on their DNA photo-inducible cross-linking abilities

We report here that phenol derivatives with two and four quaternary ammoniums were synthesized and their abilities to bind and cross-link DNA were investigated. Thermal denaturizing studies indicated that derivatives possess similar DNA binding abilities and gel electrophoresis revealed that more charges ( series B) and electronic donation substitute linkers ( like - S -) dramatically increase the DNA cross-linking abilities.