Synthesis of novel tetracationic phthalocyanines and investigation of their DNA-binding properties

Abstract

Abstract The synthesis of novel, tetracationic zinc ( 1Q ) and metal-free ( 2Q ) phthalocyanines (Pcs) bearing 4-((7-(trifluoromethyl)quinolin-4-yl)oxy) units on the periphery have been reported. The new compounds were characterized by using elemental analysis, 1 H NMR, UV–vis and FT-IR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The binding properties of both 1Q and 2Q to CT-DNA are investigated in water by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. The quenching effect of all quaternized phthalocyanines ( 1Q and 2Q ) on the fluorescence intensity of 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindoledihydrochloride (DAPI Gold)–DNA complex was determined. This study showed that the water-soluble quaternized zinc ( 1Q ) and metal-free phthalocyanines ( 2Q ) exhibit efficient DNA-binding activity.