The interaction of the platinum(II) polypyridine complexes [Pt(bipy)(2)](2+), [Pt(quaterpy)](2+), [Pt(terpy)(n-Rpy)](2+) and [Pt(bipy)(py)(2)](2+) (bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine; terpy = 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine; quaterpy = 2,2':6',2' ':6' ',2' "-quaterpyridine; n-R = H, 2-CH(3), or 4-CH(3) ) with double-helix DNA has been studied with a variety of experimental techniques. Induced circular dichroism, strong hypochromism and red shifts of the absorption maxima of the complexes, increase in melting temperature and viscosity of DNA, and inhibition of the reaction of the complexes with thiourea in the presence of DNA, characterize the processes. Intercalation, implying the whole molecule or part of it, is the suggested binding mode. The binding constants, K(B), determined spectrophotometrically at 25 degrees C, pH 7, and I = 0.15 M, using the McGhee-von Hippel approach, increase in the order [Pt(bipy)(py)(2)](2+)< [Pt(terpy)(py)](2+)< [Pt(quaterpy)](2+), on increasing aromatic planar surface extension. The steric interference with double helix of the methyl group in [Pt(terpy)(2-Mepy)](2+) destabilizes the interaction by reducing the stacking surface.

The interaction with DNA of the platinum(II) square planar complexes [Pt(N-N)(py)(2)](2+) (N-N = 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), dipyrido[3,2-d:2',3'-f]quinoxaline (dpq), dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine (dppz), benzodipyrido[b:3,2-h:2'3'-f]phenazine (bdppz)) has been investigated by means of absorption, circular and linear dichroism spectroscopy, DNA melting, and viscosity. In the presence of excess [DNA] all the complexes intercalate to the double helix. For those with the most extended phenanthrolines the binding mode depends on the [DNA]/[complex] ratio (q); at low q values the substances bind externally to DNA probably self-aggregating along the double helix. When the DNA concentration is large enough, the aggregate breaks up and the complex intercalates within the nucleobases. The complexes self-aggregate, without added DNA, in the presence of a large salt concentration.

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The interaction of the complexes [Pt(bipy)(4-Rpy)(2)](2+) and [Pt(4,4'-Ph(2)bipy)(4-Rpy)(2)](2+) (Ph = phenyl; bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine; R = H, CN, CH(3), NH(2)) with DNA has been studied with a series of techniques. The processes give rise to (i) lengthening of rodlike DNA and unwinding of closed circular DNA and (ii) an increase in the DNA melting temperature comparable with that observed for known intercalators. In addition, the reaction of the complexes [Pt(bipy)(py)(2)](2+) and [Pt(4,4'-Ph(2)bipy)(py)(2)](2+) is inhibited by the presence of DNA. These results have been interpreted by assuming that the substances intercalate in spite of the presence of ligands out of plane. The crystal structure determined for [Pt(4,4'-Ph(2)bipy)(3,5-Me(2)py)(2)](2+) by X-ray analysis shows that also one of the phenyl rings is twisted with respect to the square plane. Binding constants, K(B), determined spectrophotometrically at 25 degrees C and pH 7 using the McGhee-von Hippel approach, increase for both series of complexes on increasing pK(a) of coordinated pyridines and are larger for those with 4,4'-Ph(2)bipy. The increasing affinity for DNA on increasing electron density of the interacting moiety is accounted for by assuming that London dispersion forces play a major role in the processes.

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