Photochemical DNA cleavage by a Berenil analog

Berenil [bis(4-amidinophenyl)1,3-triazene] is a photostable DNA-binding ligand. We describe here the synthesis of N-(3-hydroxypropyl)-Berenil, which in contrast to Berenil is photosensitive to 360 nm irradiation, behaving as a caged diazonium salt. The 4-amidinobenzenediazonium fragment produced by photolysis induces DNA modification and cleavage.