Electrocatlysis in nucleic acid molten salts

Redox chemistry in semisolid molten salts ionic liquids of DNA is described in which counterions of the phosphates are redox-active metal complexes with bipyridine ligands labeled with MW 350 poly-(ethylene glycol) (PEG) 'tails. Other redox metal complexes were added to the M(bpy(sub 350) DNA melt: (a) the PEG-tailed metal bipyridine complexes Fe(bpy(sub 350))(sub 3)(ClO(sub 4))(sub 2) and Ru(bpy(sub 350))(sub 3)(ClO(sub 4))(sub 2) and (b) the nontailed complexes Os(bpy)(sub 3)Cl(sub 2) (bpy =2,2'-bipyridine) and Os(bpy)(sub 2)dppzCl(sub 2).