Abstract:
The present invention relates to a class of 1,4-dihydrodioxin masked quinone compounds which are useful as DNA or RNA cleaving reagents. These compounds may additionally include moieties which target the compounds to specific base sequences on the DNA or RNA molecule to permit site-specific cleavage. The process for using these compounds in a UV or short wavelength visible light-activated reaction for cleaving DNA, as well as pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds, are also disclosed.