Metal ion-mediated electron transfer in supramolecular DNA architectures

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Hans-Achim Wagenknecht
• Subject Area: Biological and Biomimetic Chemistry
• Term: from 2008 to 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 101434803

It is experimentally verified that unmodified DNA is able to transfer electrons efficiently and fast only over very short distances. Goal of this project is the investigation of DNA-based supramolecular architectures for the electron transfer over embedded metal ions as intermediate charge carriers. Photoinduced electron transfer is applied as a tool with high time resolution (laser) and high spatial resolution (covalently attached chromophore). The second project period will be focused on the synthesis and systematic investigation of single electron transfer pathways in correspondingly designed DNA architectures. This includes linear electron transfer over metal ions that have been incorporated in double helical DNA. Secondly, the electron transfer between two DNA double helices will be investigated. This is a ciritical step for the development of electronically interacting DNA networks. Thirdly, experiments using diarylethenes will be performed to elucidate the possibility to switch the electron transfer path. Additional metal ion coordinating structural motives will be synthesized to increase the complexity of metal ion-based DNA architectures. Thereby, the potential of metal ion-mediated DNA architectures as building blocks for molecular electronics will be elucidated.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants