Design and optimization of quadruplex-specific small molecules is developing into an
attractive strategy for anti-cancer therapeutics with some promising candidates in clinical
trials. A number of therapeutically favorable features of cyanine molecules can be effectively
exploited to develop them as promising quadruplex-targeting agents. Herein, the design,
synthesis and evaluation of a series of dimethylindolenine cyanine dyes with varying
halogen substitutions are reported. Their interactions with telomeric and c-myc …