Tracking Hole Transport in DNA Hairpins Using a Phenylethynylguanine Nucleobase

The hole transport dynamics of DNA hairpins possessing a stilbene electron acceptor and donor along with a modified guanine (G) nucleobase, specifically 8-(4′-phenylethynyl)deoxyguanosine, or EG, have been investigated. The nearly indistinguishable oxidation potentials of EG and G and unique spectroscopic characteristics of EG+• make it well-suited for directly observing transient hole occupation during charge transport between a stilbene electron donor and acceptor. In contrast to the cation radical G+•, EG+• possesses a strong absorption near 460 nm and has a distinct Raman-active ethynyl stretch. Both spectroscopic characteristics are easily distinguished from those of the stilbene donor/acceptor radical ion chromophores. Employing EG, we observe its role as a shallow hole trap, or as an intermediate hole transport site when a deeper trap state is present. Using a combination of ultrafast absorption and stimulated Raman spectroscopies, the hole-transport dynamics are observed to be similar in systems h...