Transition-metal complexes as catalysts of active oxygen species formation in autooxidation reactions

Co- and Fe-phthalocyanine complexes with cationic and anionic substituents in the macroligand, which are effective in autooxidation of ascorbic acid in aqueous solutions, are studied in the reaction of oxidative cleavage of nucleic acids. It was shown for the first time that water-soluble, metal -phthalocyanine complexes can cleave nucleic acids in the reaction of dark conjugated autooxidation of ascorbic acid. Fe-octakis(pyridiniomethyl)phthalocyanine chloride is the most efficient in oxidative degradation of RNA target, and Co- and Fe-phthalocyanine cationic complexes are the most efficient in oxidative degradation of DNAs. Using the radical traps, it was shown that the oxidative degradation of nucleic acids is caused by OH-radicals.