The interaction of DNA with organotin(IV) salts and complexes

Ethanol solutions of AlknSnCl4−n (Alk = Me, Et; n = 1–3) added to aqueous calf thymus DNA provoke DNA condensation (even in the presence of added cysteine) possibly through charge neutralization of DNA phosphodiesters by organotin(IV) cations. The structures of tin bonding environments in binary and ternary condensed systems organotin(IV)-DNA and ligand-organotin(IV)-DNA are determined through point-charge model treatment of the 119Sn Mossbauer parameter Δ, while the possible interchain interaction DNA-tin is inferred from the dynamics of 119Sn nuclei through vtMs.