Bichromophoric compounds containing a nucleotide base and coumarin linked with a polymethylene chain have been synthesized. A hypochromic effect was observed for adenine–coumarin pairs in contrast to the thymine containing compound. The fluorescence intensity of coumarin when bound into these systems was found to be significantly reduced. It has also been demonstrated that excitation energy is transferred from adenine or thymine to the coumarin moiety. Intermolecular dimerization of coumarin residues was observed upon irradiation of an adenine–coumarin pair.
An investigation of the interactions of two novel and several known DBTAA–adenine conjugates with double-stranded DNA and RNA has revealed the DNA/RNA groove as the dominant binding site, which is in contrast to the majority of previously studied DBTAA analogues (DNA/RNA intercalators). Only DBTAA–propyladenine conjugates revealed the molecular recognition of AT-DNA by an ICD band pattern > 300 nm, whereas significant ICD bands did not appear for other ds-DNA/RNA. A structure–activity relation for the studied series of compounds showed that the essential structural features for the ICD recognition are a) the presence of DNA-binding appendages (adenine side chain and positively charged side chain) on both DBTAA side chains, and b) the presence of a short propyl linker, which does not support intramolecular aromatic stacking between DBTAA and adenine. The observed AT-DNA-ICD pattern differs from previously reported ss-DNA (poly dT) ICD recognition by a strong negative ICD band at 350 nm, which allows for the dynamic differentiation between ss-DNA (poly dT) and coupled ds-AT-DNA.