DNA binding of mixed-metal supramolecular Ru, Pt complexes

The mixed-metal supramolecular complexes [(tpy)Ru(PEt2Ph)(dpp)PtCl2](PF6)2 and [(tpy)Ru(PEt2Ph)(bpm)PtCl2](PF6)2 are of interest in that they couple light absorbing ruthenium centers to a reactive metal site through a communicative bridge (tpy=2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine, bpm=2,2′-bipyrimidine and dpp=2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine). These systems have been studied and shown to avidly bind to DNA, greatly reducing its mobility through an agarose gel.