DNA Targeting Ru(II)‐Polypyridyl Complex with Long‐Lived 3IL Excited State as potential photodynamic therapy agent

Subtle ligand modifications on Ru(II)-polypyridyl complexes may result in different excited-state characteristics, which provides the opportunity to tune their photo-physicochemical properties and subsequently change their biological functions. Here, a DNA targeting Ru(II)-polypyridyl complex (named Ru1 ) with highly photosensitizing 3 IL (intraligand) excited state was designed based on a classical DNA-intercalator [Ru(bpy) 2 (dppz)]·2PF 6 by incorporation of dppz ligand tethered with pyrenyl group, which has 4 orders of magnitude higher potency than the model complex [Ru(bpy) 2 (dppz)]·2PF 6 upon light irradiation. This study provides a facile strategy for the design of organelle-targeting Ru(II)-polypyridyl complex with dramatically improved photobiological activity.