Bifunctional chemical, preparation and use for detecting nucleic acid

Abstract

A bifunctional compound comprising a molecular unit (I) intercalating between nucleobases (B) of nucleic acids, an active molecular unit (AD) capable of emitting a detectable signal, and optionally a spacer unit, in which the active molecular unit (AD) is selected from amongst chemical entities having a structure such as to interact electronically with the intercalating molecular unit (I) in such a way that, during the reaction of oxidation, the reduction-oxidation potential (EI+/I) of the semicouple I+/I defined by the intercalating molecular unit (I) is lower than the reduction-oxidation potential (EB+/B) of the semicouple B+/B defined by the nucleobases (B), and in such a way that, during the reaction of reduction, the reduction-oxidation potential (EI/I−) of the semicouple I/I− defined by the intercalating molecular unit (I) is higher than the reduction-oxidation potential (EB/B−) of the semicouple B/B− defined by the nucleobases (B). Moreover the use of the compound for detecting nucleic acids, a process for its synthesis, and a system comprising the same are described.