Canonical and unconventional pairing schemes between bis(nucleobase) complexes of trans-a2PtII: artificial nucleobase quartets and C-H...N bonds.

If two nucleobases are crosslinked by trans-a(2)Pt(II), self-association via H bonding may take place either through individual bases or jointly through both bases. Due to the blockage of an acceptor site by the metal, the number of feasible pairing patterns can be reduced, and the preferred ones altered. If the metalated base pair as a whole undergoes association, base quartets can form. Various scenarios resulting from the application of guanine, hypoxanthine, and cytosine model nucleobases are discussed. Unconventional CH em leader N hydrogen bonding has been observed in several instances.