Atomic-level control over the position and growth of a single and continuous metal chain is an ambitious goal that often requires complex and costly processes. Herein, we demonstrate that 1Pd-DNA molecules, comprising a continuous single chain of PdII ions, can be prepared by a simple self-assembly reaction between the complex [Pd(Cheld)(CH3 CN)] (1Pd_CH3 CN) (Cheld=chelidamic acid) and single-stranded DNA homopolymers (ss-DNA) containing adenine (A) or 7-deazaadenine (X) bases. The single PdII -base pairs [1Pd(N1-A)] and [1Pd(N1-X)] were synthesized and characterized in solution and solid-state (X-ray diffraction) revealing an arrangement similar to that of natural Watson-Crick base pairs. Subsequently, 1Pd-DNA hybrids were prepared, characterized, and their structures studied by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and ab-initio calculations. The results indicate that the 1Pd-DNA structures resemble that of double-stranded DNA, with one strand being replaced by a supramolecular stack of continuous PdII complexes.
Keywords: DNA; bioinorganic chemistry; metal-mediated base pair; palladium; self-assembly.
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