Redox Activity of Metallointercalators

Metal complexes also offer the possibility of more than one oxidation state and offer the potential of redox chemistry associated with binding. Potentially damaging radicals can then be produced in the vicinity of the proposed target. Intercalators such as ethidium have also been used to tether iron species, which can produce radicals in the vicinity of DNA, reminiscent of bleomycin (Chapter 7). The reduction of Co(III) phenan-throline complexes with subsequent radical production also results in 

DNA cleavage and these aspects are covered in Section 1.3.4. With respect to electron transfer, DNA-mediated photoelectron transfer between [Ru(phen)3] and [Co(phen)3] has been observed [82]. 

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