Patent ID: 7576205

Claim:
A threading intercalator of general formula I: IG 1 -DG-IG 2 -(DG-IG 3 ) n (I) wherein IG 1 , IG 2 and IG 3 are the same or different and each of IG 1 , IG 2 and IG 3 is an intercalating group that is a naphthalene imide derivative or a naphthalene diimide derivative, with at least one of IG 1 , IG 2 and IG 3 being a napthalene diimide derivative having a structure of formula V: R 1 is a group which is capable of forming a coordinative bond with the detectable group and has a structure of formula IV: —R 6 -AG (IV) wherein R 6 is a branched or unbranched, saturated or unsaturated C 1 -C 10 alkylene; or a branched or unbranched, saturated or unsaturated C 1 -C 10 heteroalkylene having from 1 to 3 heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of N, O, S and P; and AG is a saturated or unsaturated 5 to 10-membered heterocyclic group having from 1 to 3 heteroatoms selected from the groups consisting of N, O, S and P; R 2 is H, NR 3 R 4 , CONR 3 R 4 , COOR 5 , an optionally branched C 1 -C 10 alkyl or an optionally branched C 2 -C 10 alkene, which C 1 -C 10 alkyl and C 2 -C 10 alkene are optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of (i) a 5 to 10 membered heterocyclic group having from 1 to 3 heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of N, O, S, and P; (ii) a C 5 -C 14 saturated or unsaturated cyclic group; (iii) a C 6 -C 14 aryl group; (iv) NR 3 R 4 ; (v) CONR 3 R 4 ; and (vi) COOR 5 ; R 3 , R 4 and R 5 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, C 1 -C 6 alkyl and C 2 -C 6 alkene, and when the R 2 group contains a N atom, R 2 optionally forms a salt; DG is a catalytic, electrochemical, a chemiluminescent or an electrochemiluminescent detectable group having a structure of formula II: -M[(L) n′ ]- (II) wherein M represents a metal selected from the group consisting of Ru, Fe, Co, Cu and Os; L is a coordinative binding ligand that is a C 5 -C 30 heterocyclic group comprising from 1 to 6 heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of N, O, S and P, optionally substituted by 1 to 6 groups independently selected from C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 2 -C 6 alkene and halogen; and n′ is an integer from 1 to 6; and n is 0 or 1.