Novel and highly efficient DNA photocleavers: hydroperoxides of heterocyclic-fused naphthalimides

A series of novel hydroperoxides of heterocyclic-fused naphthalimides were designed, synthesized and exhibited excellent DNA photonicking activities. Among these compounds, the benzothiophenonaphthalimide-type reagent proved to be the most efficient, it can induce single-strand nicks in duplex DNA at micromolar concentration upon illumination. The relationship between the molecular structure and cleaving activities was discussed.