Electric dichroism evidence for intercalation of optically active [Ru(bpy) 2 (phi)] 2+ (phi = 9,10-phenanthrenequinone diimine, bpy = 2,2′-bipyridyl) by DNA

Electric dichroism measurements on a solution containing DNA and enantiomeric [Ru(bpy)2(phi)]2+(phi = 9,10-phenanthrenequinone diimine, bpy = 2,2′-bipyridyl) at pH 7.0 have revealed that the phi ligand of the bound metal complex orients perpendicularly to the helical axis of DNA, supporting a structure where the metal complex is bound to DNA with the phi ligand intercalated between the base pairs.