Synthesis of [12]aneN3–dipeptide conjugates as metal-free DNA nucleases

In this Letter, a series of macrocyclic polyamine [12]aneN3–dipeptide conjugates as a new type of metal-free nucleases were synthesized and fully characterized with 1H NMR, 13C NMR, IR, and HR-MS. Results indicate that these conjugates can bind to calf thymus DNA mainly through electrostatic interaction and can cleave the plasmid DNA at 200 μM (pH 7.2, 37 °C), with an acceleration of 106-fold via hydrolytic pathway.

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