Abstract
THE observation1 that copper(II) ions reversibly denature DNA has stimulated interest in the type of bonding between these metal ions and the nucleotide bases adenine, cytosine, guanine and thymine. The interaction between these bases and metal ions by the formation of coordinate bonds would have a marked effect on the key hydrogen bonds in the biological systems. In the case of adenine (Ade) it is known2 that various cupric salts will form compounds of the stoichiometries Cu(Ade)2X2.nH2O and Cu(Ade)X2.nH2O, and an inner complex Cu(C5H4N5)2.4H2O can also be isolated. This last compound has an interesting dimeric structure3 in which pairs of copper ions are held 2.947 Å apart by four bridging adenine anions, coordinated through N(3) and N(9). Magnetic and electron proton resonance (EPR) studies4 have shown that there is pronounced antiferromagnetic coupling between the two copper atoms.
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MEESTER, P., GOODGAME, D., PRICE, K. et al. Crystal Structure of Cu(adenine)2Cl2.3H2O and Bridging Capability of Adenine. Nature 229, 191–192 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1038/229191a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/229191a0
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