Synthesis and photo-activity of phenylazonaphthalene peptide nucleic acid monomers

Phenylazonaphthalene peptide nucleic acid (PNA) monomers were successfully synthesized, and their photoisomerization was examined. The new PNA monomers showed reversible trans–cis isomerization with UV and visible light irradiation, which might be the foundation of photo-regulating the hybridization between PNA containing phenylazonaphthalene unit and DNA. Simultaneously, the fluorescence of the new PNA monomers might make them especially useful as structural probes.