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Updated: Oct 19, 2025

[DPEPhosbcpCu]PF6: A General and Broadly Applicable Copper-Based Photoredox Catalyst

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Published on: May 21, 2019

Triggering Copper(II)-Mediated Base Pair Formation by Light.

Shuvankar Naskar¹, Jens Müller¹

¹Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Institut für Anorganische und Analytische Chemie, Corrensstrasse 28/30, 48149 Münster, Germany.

Inorganic Chemistry

|September 22, 2021

Summary

Researchers developed a light-activated caged deoxyribonucleoside analog (H*) for site-specific copper(II) binding in DNA. This enables controlled formation of metal-mediated base pairs, enhancing DNA duplex stability, particularly with the H-Cu(II)-X pair.

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Synthesis of Wavelength-shifting DNA Hybridization Probes by Using Photostable Cyanine Dyes

Synthesis of Wavelength-shifting DNA Hybridization Probes by Using Photostable Cyanine Dyes

Published on: July 6, 2016

Area of Science:

Chemical Biology
Nucleic Acid Chemistry
Supramolecular Chemistry

Background:

Metal-mediated base pairs allow site-specific incorporation of transition metal ions into nucleic acids.
Functionalized nucleic acids with metal-based properties are of significant interest.
Controlling metal-binding affinity externally is desirable for regulating functionality.

Purpose of the Study:

To devise nucleic acids with externally triggered metal-binding affinity.
To develop a caged deoxyribonucleoside analog for light-controlled copper(II) binding.
To investigate the formation and stability of novel metal-mediated base pairs.

Main Methods:

Design and synthesis of a caged deoxyribonucleoside analog (H*) utilizing a 3-hydroxy-2-methylpyridin-4(1H)-one ligand and a photocleavable 2-(2-nitrophenyl)propoxy protecting group.
Site-specific incorporation of H* into DNA duplexes.
Irradiation of DNA duplexes in the presence of copper(II) ions to induce metal-mediated base pair formation.

Main Results:

Successful formation of both H-Cu(II)-H homo base pairs and H-Cu(II)-X hetero base pairs upon light irradiation.
The H-Cu(II)-X hetero base pair demonstrated exceptional DNA duplex stabilization, increasing stability by up to 43 °C.
The H-Cu(II)-X pair represents one of the most stabilizing copper(II)-mediated base pairs reported to date.

Conclusions:

The developed caged deoxyribonucleoside analog enables light-triggered, site-specific copper(II) binding in DNA.
This expands the possibilities for creating functionalized nucleic acids with externally regulated metal-binding properties.
The findings introduce a novel copper(II)-binding ligand, enhancing the scope of light-controlled metal-mediated base pair formation.