Spectroscopy of Ru(II) polypyridyl complexes used as intercalators in DNA: Towards a theoretical study of the light switch effect

Sonochemical effect on two new Ruthenium(II) complexes with ligand (E)-N-((6-bromopyridin-2-yl)methylene)-4-(methylthio)aniline precursors for synthesis of RuO2 nanoparticles

Two novel Ru(II) complexes [(η⁶-p-cymene)RuCl(L2)]PF₆ (R2) and [(η⁶-C₆H₆)RuCl(L2)]PF₆ (R4), with ligand (E)-N-((6-bromopyridin-2-yl)methylene)-4-(methylthio)aniline (L2), were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and IR spectroscopy. Based on X-ray crystallography studies, complexes R2 and R4 have coordination environments with formulated (η⁶-p-cymene)Ru(N₂Cl) and (η⁶-C₆H₆)Ru(N₂Cl), respectively. The thermal stabilities of compounds R2 and R4 were studied by thermal gravimetric (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Thermal decomposition of these complexes was at 280°C and 260°C under air atmosphere respectively. The interaction of these complexes with calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) was explored through electronic absorption spectra, fluorescence and redox behavior studies. The results showed that the complexes bind to CT-DNA with electrostatic interactions. Nanoparticles of RuO₂ were prepared by calcination of R2 and R4. Also the role of the ultrasound waves on the characteristics of the RuO₂ nanoparticles was studied. The nanoparticles were characterized by IR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Also size and morphology of nanoparticles were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Direct Determination of Metal Complexes' Interaction with DNA by Atomic Telemetry and Multiscale Molecular Dynamics

The lack of molecular mechanistic understanding of the interaction between metal complexes and biomolecules hampers their potential medical use. Herein we present a robust procedure combining resonant X-ray emission spectroscopy and multiscale molecular dynamics simulations, which allows for straightforward elucidation of the precise interaction mechanism at the atomic level. The report unveils an unforeseen hydrolysis process and DNA binding of [Pt{N(p-HC₆F₄)CH₂}₂py₂] (Pt103), which showed potential cytotoxic activity in the past. Pt103 preferentially coordinates to adjacent adenine sites, instead of guanine sites as in cisplatin, because of its hydrogen bond ability. Comparison with previous research on cisplatin suggests that selective binding to guanine or adenine may be achieved by controlling the acidity of the compound.

Temperature and oxygen-concentration dependence of singlet oxygen production by RuPhen as induced by quasi-continuous excitation

Assessment of partial pressure of oxygen (pO2) by luminescence lifetime measurements of ruthenium coordination complexes has been studied intensively during the last few decades. RuPhen (dichlorotris(1,10-phenanthroline) ruthenium(ii) hydrate) is a water soluble molecule that has been tested previously for in vivo pO2 detection. In this work we intended to shed light on the production of singlet oxygen by RuPhen. The quantum yield of singlet oxygen production by RuPhen dissolved in 0.9% aqueous NaCl solution (pH = 6) was measured at physiological temperatures (285-310 K) and various concentrations of molecular oxygen. In order to minimize the bleaching of RuPhen, the samples were excited with low power (<2 mW) laser pulses (20 μs long), created by pulsing a cw laser beam with an acousto-optical modulator. We show that, whereas the RuPhen phosphorescence lifetime decreases rapidly with an increase of temperature (keeping the oxygenation level constant), the quantum yield of singlet oxygen production by RuPhen is almost identical in the temperature range of 285-310 K. For air-saturated conditions at 310 K the measured quantum yield is about 0.25. The depopulation rate constants of the RuPhen (3)MLCT (metal-to-ligand charge-transfer) state are determined in the absence and in the presence of oxygen. We determined that the excitation energy for the RuPhen (3)MLCT→d-d transition is 49 kJ mol(-1) in the 0.9% NaCl solution (pH = 6).

Photophysical properties of ruthenium(II) polypyridyl DNA intercalators: effects of the molecular surroundings investigated by theory

The environmental effects on the structural and photophysical properties of [Ru(L)2 (dppz)](2+) complexes (L=bpy=2,2'-bipyridine, phen=1,10-phenanthroline, tap=1,4,5,8-tetraazaphenanthrene; dppz=dipyrido[3,3-a:2',3'-c]phenazine), used as DNA intercalators, have been studied by means of DFT, time-dependent DFT, and quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics calculations. The electronic characteristics of the low-lying triplet excited states in water, acetonitrile, and DNA have been investigated to decipher the influence of the environment on the luminescent behavior of this class of molecules. The lowest triplet intra-ligand (IL) excited state calculated at λ≈800 nm for the three complexes and localized on the dppz ligand is not very sensitive to the environment and is available for electron transfer from a guanine nucleobase. Whereas the lowest triplet metal-to-ligand charge-transfer ((3)MLCT) states remain localized on the ancillary ligand (tap) in [Ru(tap)2 (dppz)](2+), regardless of the environment, their character is drastically modified in the other complexes [Ru(phen)2 (dppz)](2+) and [Ru(bpy)2 (dppz)](2+) upon going from acetonitrile (MLCTdppz/phen or MLCTdppz/bpy) to water (MLCTdppz) and DNA (MLCTphen and MLCTbpy). The change in the character of the low-lying (3) MLCT states accompanying nuclear relaxation in the excited state controls the emissive properties of the complexes in water, acetonitrile, and DNA. The light-switching effect has been rationalized on the basis of environment-induced control of the electronic density distributed in the lowest triplet excited states.

Photodissociation of a ruthenium(II) arene complex and its subsequent interactions with biomolecules: a density functional theory study

The piano-stool Ru(II) arene complex [(η⁶-benz)Ru(bpm)(py)]²⁺ (benz = benzene, bpm = 2,2'-bipyrimidine, and py = pyridine), which is conventionally nonlabile (on a timescale and under conditions relevant for biological reactivity), can be activated by visible light to selectively photodissociate the monodentate ligand (py). In the present study, the aquation and binding of the photocontrolled ruthenium(II) arene complex [(η⁶-benz)Ru(bpm)(py)]²⁺ to various biomolecules are studied by density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TDDFT). Potential energy curves (PECs) calculated for the Ru-N (py) bonds in [(η⁶-benz)Ru(bpm)(py)]²⁺ in the singlet and triplet state give useful insights into the photodissociation mechanism of py. The binding energies of the various biomolecules are calculated, which allows the order of binding affinities among the considered nuleic-acid- or protein-binding sites to be discerned. The kinetics for the replacement of water in the aqua complex with biomolecules is also considered, and the results demonstrate that guanine is superior to other biomolecules in terms of coordinating with the Ru(II) aqua adduct, which is in reasonable agreement with experimental observations.

DENSITY FUNCTIONAL THEORY/TIME-DEPENDENT DENSITY FUNCTIONAL THEORY STUDY ON THE STRUCTURES AND SOLVENT EFFECTS ON THE ELECTRONIC SPECTRA OF Ru(II) POLYPYRIDYL COMPLEXES: [Ru(bpy)2(L)]2+ (L = CNOIP, HPIP, DPPZ, TAPIP)

The structures and solvent dependence of electronic spectra of four Ru ( II ) polypyridyl complexes: [ Ru ( bpy )2 CNOIP ]2+, bpy = 2,2-bipyridine and CNOIP = 2-(2-chloro-5-nitrophenyl)imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline (Ru-1); [ Ru ( bpy )2 HPIP ]2+, HPIP = 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl) imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline ( Ru -2); [ Ru ( bpy )2 DPPZ ]2+, DPPZ = dipyrido[3,2:a-2′,3′:c]-phenazine ( Ru -3); [ Ru ( bpy )2 TAPIP ]2+, TAPTP = 4,5,9,18-tetraazaphenanthreno-[9,10-b]triphenylene ( Ru -4) have been carried out by density functional theory/time-dependent density functional theory in vacuum and nine solvents are described by the conductor-like polarized continuum model. The calculated results show that the solvent has a strong effect on the electron distribution of molecular orbitals and character of charge transfer. In water, the simulated absorption spectra (λmax) are in accordance with experimental data. The computational results also indicate the electronic spectra of Ru ( II ) polypyridyl complexes: [ Ru ( bpy )2( L )]2+ is very sensitive to the intercalative ligands L = CNOIP, HPIP, DPPZ, TAPIP in the presence of solvent. It was noted that the trend of transition intensity of complexes strongly depends on the polarity of solvents. In the present polar solvents, the transition intensity trend of Ru -4 > Ru -1 > Ru -2 > Ru -3 was obtained, but in the case of nonpolar solvents, the transition intensity trend is Ru -4 > Ru -3 > Ru -1 > Ru -2. Among the four polypyridyl complexes, [ Ru ( bpy )2 TAPIP ]2+( Ru -4) exhibits the strongest oscillator strength in all nine solvents.

Excited state behaviour of substituted dipyridophenazine Cr(III) complexes in the presence of nucleic acids

The photophysics and photochemistry of [Cr(phen)(2)(dppz)](3+) and its 11,12-substituted derivatives [Cr(phen)(2)(X(2)dppz)](3+) {X = Me or F} have been studied in the presence of purine nucleotides or DNA using steady state and time-resolved absorption and luminescence spectroscopy. 5'-Adenosine monophosphate (5'-AMP) shows only a weak interaction with the excited states of each complex. By contrast they are efficiently quenched by 5'-guanosine monophosphate (5'-GMP), consistent with photo-induced electron transfer. Laser flash photolysis spectroscopy in the presence of 5'-GMP suggests that both forward and back electron-transfers are rapid. All complexes also display a strong affinity for DNA and evidence for both static and dynamic quenching mechanisms is provided.