Mechanism of UV-Induced Formation of Dewar Lesions in DNA

Angewand. Chem. Int. Ed., 2012, 51, 408.411 published on 23.11.2011
Angewand.Chem.Int. Ed.
The mechanism of formation of Dewar lesions (see scheme) has been investigated by using femtosecond IR spectroscopy and ab initio calculations of the exited state. The 4π electrocyclization is rather slow, occurs with an unusual high quantum yield, and—surprisingly—is controlled by the phosphate backbone.
LMUexcellent
TU München