Ruthenium(II) complexes of 6,7-dicyanodipyridoquinoxaline: synthesis, luminescence studies, and DNA interaction

The syntheses, spectral characterizations, DNA interactions and electrochemical properties of mono, bis, and tris complexes of a new dipyridophenazine-based ligand, dicnq (6,7-dicyanodipyrido[2,2-d:2',3'-f]quinoxaline), are described. The detailed luminescence studies indicate that [Ru(phen)(sub 2)(dicnq)(sub 2)](super 2+) are moderately efficient molecular light switches for DNA.