Electrochemical Activity of new ferrocene-labelled PNA monomers to be applied for DNA detection: effects of the molecular structure and of the solvent

PNA oligomers are promising candidates as DNA probes on account of their very high DNA binding power, but they generally require an appropriate electrochem. or spectroscopically active marker. This paper describes the systematic electrochem. characterization of two newly synthesized PNA monomers, derivatized with one or three active ferrocene groups, and of their precursors. Our monomers show high electrochem. activity in spite of their bulkiness; moreover, the systematicity of our investigation affords an interesting anal. of the role of the mol. structure, the degree of functionalization and the working solvent on the electrochem. activity of the organometallic site.