Molecular Self-Assembly of an Unusual Dinuclear Ruthenium(III) Complex Based on the Nucleobase Guanine

Abstract

The study of crystal structures based on complexes containing purine nucleobases is a significant research subject, mainly regarding the diagnosis and treatment of some diseases and the investigation of genetic mutations and biochemical structures in life sciences. We have obtained and characterized a new dinuclear ruthenium(III) complex based on guanine with the formula [{Ru(µ-Cl)(µ-gua)}2Cl4]·2H2O (1) (gua = guanine). 1 was characterized by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT–IR), scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM–EDX), single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD), Hirshfeld surface analysis and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The study of its electrochemical properties allowed us to investigate the presence of guanine molecules when linked to the ruthenium(III) ion in 1. The well-resolved voltammetric response together with the reliability and stability achieved through 1 could provide a step forward to developing new ruthenium-based platforms, devices and modified electrodes adequate to study this purine nucleobase.