Abstract
The reactions of cis-[MCl2(mit)2](M = Pd or Pt; mit = 1-methylimidazole-2-thiol) with guanosine (guo), cytidine (cyd), and adenosine (ado) have been studied in neutral solutions. Two types of complexes have been isolated, of general formula [M(mit)2L2]X2(L = guo or cyd) and [ML4]X2(L = cyd or ado) with X = Cl and [PF6]. By use of i.r. spectroscopy and of the chemical shifts occurring in 1H and 13C n.m.r. spectroscopy, it is possible to confirm co-ordination of Pd and Pt to N7 in guo and ado, and to N6 in cyd. The n.m.r. investigations reflect electronic modifications in the ring system of the co-ordinated nucleosides, which are discussed in terms of DNA denaturation by heavy transition-metal complexes.