Interaction of some fluorinated nucleic acid components with praseodymium: an absorption spectral approach.

Absorption difference and comparative absorption spectrophotometric studies on praseodymium(III) and fluorouracil, fluorocytosine, fluoroadenine, fluorothymine, fluorouridine, fluorocytidine, fluoroadenosine and fluorothymidine systems at pH approximately 5.5 and in different stoichiometries in 80% DMF medium have been carried out. Magnitudes of spectral parameters, viz. Coulombic (Fk), spin-orbit (zeta 4f), nephelauxetic (beta), bonding (b), intensity (T lambda Judd-Ofelt), and oscillator strength (P) and their variation have provided information on the binding mode of these biomolecules in terms of outer and inner sphere complexation, degree of covalency and extent of 4f orbital involvement. Preliminary ultrasonic studies have indicated that these biomolecules behave as structure breakers, hence weak ligands in aqueous medium, while strengthening water structure in semi-nonaqueous medium. The analysis of the isolated solid complexes has suggested octa- and nona-coordination for praseodymium(III) in fluorinated nucleic bases and fluorinated nucleoside complexes.