Copper Complexes of N-Donor Ligands as Artificial Nucleases

This microreview summarizes recent research in the field of artificial nucleases, in particular those based on copper(II) in an N-donating ligand environment. This review is divided into three parts describing different ligand classes that have shown promising results in DNA cleavage chemistry: aromatic N-donors, aliphatic N-donors, and peptide ligands. Whereas nature has created very efficient nucleases, artificial nucleases aim at different selectivities and higher stability under various conditions. Artificial nucleases based on metal complexes comprise Lewis acidic or redox-active metal centers allowing for either hydrolytic or oxidative DNA cleavage. The focus of our research and thus also of this microreview is copper, whose CuII ion combines both properties. Depending on the ligand scaffold and reaction conditions, either pathway or even both are thus conceivable. Those different pathways lead to molecular biological and medicinal applications.