Polypyridyl‐Based Copper Phenanthrene Complexes: Combining Stability with Enhanced DNA Recognition

We report a series of copper(II) artificial metallo‐nucleases (AMNs) and demonstrate their DNA damaging properties and in‐vitro cytotoxicity against human‐derived pancreatic cancer cells. The compounds combine a tris‐chelating polypyridyl ligand, di‐(2‐pycolyl)amine (DPA), and a DNA intercalating phenanthrene unit. Their general formula is Cu‐DPA‐ N , N ' (where N , N '=1,10‐phenanthroline (Phen), dipyridoquinoxaline (DPQ) or dipyridophenazine...