Efficient Cleavage of pUC19 DNA by Tetraaminonaphthols

In an attempt to create models of phosphodiesterases, we previously investigated bis(guanidinium) naphthols. Such metal-free anion receptors cleaved aryl phosphates and also plasmid DNA. Observed reaction rates, however, could not compete with those of highly reactive metal complexes. In the present study, we have replaced the guanidines by ethylene diamine side chains which accelerates the plasmid cleavage by compound 13 significantly (1 mM 13: t1/2=22 h). Further gains in reactivity are achieved by azo coupling of the naphthol unit. The electron accepting azo group decreases the pK_a of the hydroxy group. It can also serve as a dye label and a handle for attaching DNA binding moieties. The resulting azo naphthol 17 not only nicks (1 mM 17: t1/2~1 h) but also linearizes pUC19 DNA. Although the high reactivity of 17 seems to result in part from aggregation, in the presence of EDTA azo naphthol 17 obeys first order kinetics (1 mM 17: t1/2=4.8 h), reacts four times faster than naphthol 13 and surpasses by far the former bis(guanidinium) naphthols 4 and 5.