Polypyridyl sensitisers

H-atom abstraction has been demonstrated to be the mechanism of action of excited uranyl ions, and in this case negligible base oxidation is found. Nucleo-base (especially guanine) oxidation is the principal reaction caused by singlet oxygen and this reactive species can be generated by a number of the complexes (e.g. many Ru(II)polypyridyls and porphyrins). It is worth pointing out, however, that the yield of may be lower when the sensitiser is bound to DNA, and it is the authors view that some of the reactions claimed to proceed via 62 may be caused by direct reaction of the photo-oxidised sensitiser with the DNA. 

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