Synthesis of diethylenetriamine polydentate ligands and their DNA-cleaving activity

A series of multinuclear diethylenetriamine ligands were synthesized and used as artificial nuclease enzyme model.  Target compounds were characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, IR and ESI-MS.  Preliminary studies on the cleavage of pUC19 DNA in the presence of metal complexes have also been performed and the results revealed that these complexes could act as powerful catalysts for the cleavage of pUC19 DNA after 48 h under physiological conditions.  The hydrolytic cleavage mechanism of DNA plasmid by title compound was confirmed by T4 DNA ligase experiment.