Synthesis, characterization, structures and DNA-binding properties of complexes [Ru(bpy)2(L)]2+ (L = ptdb, ptda and ptdp) with asymmetric intercalative ligands

A series of Ru(II) polypyridyl complexes [Ru(bpy)2(ptdb)](ClO4)2 (1), [Ru(bpy)2(ptda)](ClO4)2 (2) and [Ru(bpy)2(ptdp)](ClO4)2 (3) with asymmetric intercalative ligands have been synthesized and characterized by EA, mass spectra, 1H NMR and cyclic voltammetry. The crystal structure of complex 1 has been determined. The DNA-binding properties of the complexes were investigated by absorption titration, luminescence spectroscopy and viscosity measurements. The experimental results suggest that all these complexes bind to DNA in an intercalation mode. The results also show that the order of DNA-binding affinities (A) of this series of complexes is A(1) < A(2) < A(3). It is further confirmed that a ligand planarity of the complexes is a very important factor in affecting the DNA-binding behaviors of such complexes. Theoretical studies for these complexes were also carried out with the density functional theory (DFT) method. The trend in the DNA-binding affinities of this series of complexes can be reasonably explained by the synthetical considerations of the calculated planarity of intercalative ligands, some frontier molecular orbital energies of the complexes and the planarity area (S) of the intercalative ligands.