Synthesis of diamido-bipyridine ligands

ORGN 708

Anne E. Oberlink, aoberli@siue.edu, Department of Chemistry, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville, IL 62026-1652
The purpose of our research is to experimentally determine the possibility of isoform and sequence specific binding and cleavage in DNA. By using Jacqueline Barton's work with isoform specific binding, we are attempting to use the common DNA binding motifs with amino acids to extend the concept to sequence specificity. Current work is concerned with the last synthetic steps of the binding elements of the proposed ligands. Once this step is accomplished, we will synthesize the metal complexes and determine the DNA binding and cleavage potential.