Non-covalent DNA-recognition by synthetic agents is surveyed in this tutorial review, and contrasted with biomolecular DNA-recognition. The principles and forces involved in DNA recognition are similar to those seen elsewhere in the wider field of supramolecular chemistry, although the size, surface dimensions and nature of DNA introduce new possibilities and challenges. Recent discoveries of new binding motifs, and new biological structural and genomic information from bioscience, are affording new opportunities for supramolecular chemistry, where shape, fit and orientation play such an important role.

The field of metal-based anticancer drugs was initiated by cisplatin, one of the leading agents in clinical use. Cisplatin acts by binding to DNA and forming 1,2 intrastrand cross-links. Its importance is reflected by the fact that it is estimated that 50-70 % of cancer patients are treated with a platinum drug [7]. For some time, molecular designs in the metallo-drug field remained obdurately anchored incis-diamine platinum(II) chemistry, but now the field is evolving rapidly with a variety of alternate and very diverse designs being explored. These designs give rise to new spectra of activity and potency and can circumvent cisplatin resistance. This critical review considers the existing clinical platinum drugs, and those currently in commercial development, alongside the new designs including ruthenium anticancer and antimetastatic drugs in clinical trials, polynuclear drugs, organometallic drugs, titanium and gallium drugs, and emerging supramolecular metallo-drugs that act on DNA by noncovalent interactions. The rapid evolution of the field is being informed by post-genomic knowledge and approaches, and further dramatic step-change breakthroughs can be expected as a result; harnessing this knowledge and responding to and taking advantage of this new environment requires integration of chemistry and biology research.

(2004). Helices and Helicates: Beautiful Supramolecular Motifs with Emerging Applications. Supramolecular Chemistry: Vol. 16, No. 1, pp. 7-22.

The use of π-stacking interactions to control the aggregation of photo-active metal centres is explored through the design of bis(2,2′;6′,2′′-terpyridyl) metal complexes functionalised with biphenyl ‘tails’. Aryl–aryl interactions control the aggregation of the metal complexes into polymetallic arrays in the solid state. Cobalt(II), ruthenium(II), nickel(II), copper(II), zinc(II) and cadmium(II) bis-ligand complexes and a mixed ligand ruthenium(II) complex have been structurally characterised. The solid-state structures are dependent on which units dominate the π-stacking. For cobalt, ruthenium, nickel and copper, biphenylene–biphenylene interactions lead to linear rod-like arrays, while for the group 12 d¹⁰ ions zinc and cadmium, biphenylene–pyridyl interactions lead to two-dimensional sheets. The addition of the biphenylene tail has favourable effects on the photophysical-properties of the complexes which exhibit room temperature red (ruthenium) or blue (zinc and cadmium) luminescence, both in solution and the solid state.