Base-Specific Minor Groove Site Binding in Metallo-Nucleobase Polymers

Polynucleobase strands, isolated from reactions of copper(II) with diamine-tethered derivatives of guanine and adenine, have been structurally characterized (see picture). These strands exhibit markedly different topologies resulting from a base-specific minor groove site binding. The absence of this interaction for guanine generates a novel cationic polyguaninyl analogue.