Redox-induced binding of [(tacn)Re(II)Br(CO)2]+ to guanine, oligonucleotides, and peptides

Abstract

Oxidation is the key: A redox-switch based on a water-soluble ReII complex is presented. Upon binding to biological ligands such as the side chains in peptides or proteins, ReII in, for example, [ReII(tacn)(L)(CO)2]2+ (in wich L=target site, TACN = 1,4,7-triazacyclononane), becomes strongly oxidizing and is reduced to the robust ReI complex [ReI(tacn)(L)(CO)2]+. This reduction leads to essentially irreversible metalation of the biomolecule.