Mixed ligand copper(II) complexes: Synthesis, characterization and DNA cleavage activities

Abstract

AimThis study was aimed to examine the DNA cleavage ability of the mixed ligand copper complexes. MethodsThe reduced form of Schiff base ligands L1 and L2 (where L1 is 1-(tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)-N-(thiophen-2-ylmethyl)methanamine and L2 is 1-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-N-(tetrahydrofuran-2-ylmethyl)methanamine) were synthesized. Three new mixed ligand mononuclear copper(II) complexes containing tridentate unsymmetrical and bidentate symmetrical ligands were also synthesized. ResultsThe synthesized complexes were characterized using various physicochemical techniques like cyclic voltammetry and elemental analysis, ESI-MS, UV–Visible, Infra red and EPR. All the three complexes however successfully promoted an oxidative cleavage of plasmid DNA, producing single strand break. In addition, mechanistic SC DNA cleavage results show higher DNA cleavage activity in presence of oxidizing agent, due to the presence of hydroxyl radicals. ConclusionsFrom the present study it was concluded that the complexes were able to cleave plasmid DNA oxidatively in the presence of hydrogen peroxide.