Stacking interaction in metal complexes with compositions of DNA and heteroaromatic N-bases

The current development in the intramolecular aromatic-ring stacking i nteractions in the complexes with compositions of DNA and heteroaromatic N-bases has been reviewed to a great extent, especially the significant contributions i n several important systems about ternary mixed-ligand complexes, including nucl eotide-metal ion-po- lyaromatic amine, amino acid-metal ion-polyaromatic amine, nucleotide-metal ion-pyridine-like aromatic amine, nucleotide-metal ion-amino ac id, nucleotide-metal ion-nucleic acid base, nucleic acid base-metal ion, and the important factors affecting the intramolecular aromatic-ring stacking interacti ons in the complexes. Based on the study of stacking interaction in the complexe s, the mechanism of interaction between DNA molecules and complexes of heteroaro matic N-bases has been established, which is crucial for the design and synthesi s of the complexes acting as molecular devices of DNA.