Inclusion of Ethyl Acetoacetate Bearing 7‐Hydroxycoumarin Dye by β‐Cyclodextrin and its Cooperative Assembly with Mercury(II) Ions: Spectroscopic and Molecular Modeling Studies

The inclusion of the fluorescent organic dye, ethyl 3‐(7‐hydroxy‐2‐oxo‐2H‐chromen‐3‐yl)‐3‐oxopropanoate ( 1 ) by the host β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD), and its response toward mercuric ions (Hg²⁺), was studied by UV/Vis, fluorescence, and ¹H NMR spectroscopic analyses, mass spectrometry and molecular modeling studies. ¹H NMR measurements together with molecular modeling studies for dye 1 demonstrate that it exhibits two tautomeric forms (keto and enol); however, when the dye is included into the β‐CD cavity, the enol form predominates. Moreover, by using spectroscopic and spectrometry techniques, a 1:1 stoichiometry was determined for the complexes formed between dye 1 (enol form) and β‐CD, with a binding constant (K_b1=1.8×10⁴ m ^?1) and for the dye 1 (keto form)‐Hg²⁺ (K_b2=2.3×10³ m ^?1). Interestingly, in the presence of 1 –β‐CD complex and mercuric ions, a ternary supramolecular system (Hg– 1 –β‐CD complex) was established, with a 1:1:1 stoichiometry and a K_b3 value of 4.3×10³ m ^?1, with the keto form of the dye being the only one present in this assembly. The three‐component system provides a starting point for the development of novel and directed supramolecular assemblies.     

Selective Pseudo-Rotaxane Type Complex Formation of Zinc(II) (t-butylatedtetraphenyl) porphyrin-Viologen Linked Compounds with tri-O-methyl-β-Cyclodextrin

Inclusion complexation behavior of 2,3,6−tri-O-methyl-β-cyclodextrin (TM-β-CD) with zinc(II) 5,10,15-tri-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-20-(4-(n-alkyloxy)phenylporphyrin covalently linked with violgen by a polymethylene chain (Zn-t- bu-PC _n V²⁺; n=4, 6, 8, 10 and 12) was investigated by means of ¹H NMR, UV/Vis absorption spectroscopies in acetonitrile-water (1:1, v/v). The ¹H NMR spectra indicated that Zn-t-bu-PC _n V²⁺ presumably existed as a mixture of a dimer and a monomer in high concentration (>1×10⁻³ mol dm⁻³), and the dimer was degraded by the complex formation with TM-β-CD. The ¹H NMR spectra of these compounds as a function of [TM-β-CD] showed the selective formation of 1:1 (=Zn-t-bu-PC _n V²⁺: TM-β-CD) pseudo-rotaxane type complexes. The chemical modification by t-butyl groups on porphyrin showed a good protective effect on inclusion of benzene groups into the TM-β-CD cavity. These rotaxane formation constants (K) were determined by titration studies using UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy. These complex formation constants were somewhat affected by the spacer methylene chain between the porphyrin and viologen. The value of K for Zn-t-bu-PC₄V²⁺·TM-β-CD is 1.0×10³ M⁻¹ which is the smallest whereas those for Zn-t-bu-PC _n V²⁺·TM-β-CD (n=8, 10, 12) were similar (1.0×10⁴ M⁻¹).     

Veronicafolin－β-环糊精的物化表征及Veronicafolin－羟丙基-β-环糊精包合物溶解性的增强

用氢谱、红外光谱、X-射线粉末衍射、热分析、元素分析等测试方法研究了Veronicafolin (3,5,4′-三羟基-6,7,3′-三甲氧基黄酮) 和β-环糊精 (β-CD) 的固体包合物的谱学特征。元素分析结果显示形成Veronicafolin-β-CD·20H2O包合物，其中C：39.58%, H: 5.75%，表明包合物中主客体比为1∶1。该包合类型属于A_L-型。通过紫外-可见分光光度法研究了在羟丙基-β-环糊精（HP-β-CD）的存在下Veronicafolin的相溶解度曲线，测得校正曲线为y = 24148x + 0.0075 (r=0.9999)，相溶解曲线为y=0.4738x-2.0×10^-7 (r=0.9490)，包结平衡常数Ks为4.5×10⁶mol-1。HP-β-CD提高了黄酮醇Veronicafolin的溶解度。     

Kinetics of dehydrohalogenation of N-chloro-3-azabicyclo[3,3,0]octane in alkaline medium. NMR and ES/MS evidence of the dimerization of 3-azabicyclo[3,3,0]oct-2-ene

The formation of 3-azabicyclo[3,3,0]oct-2-ene in the course of the synthesis of N-amino-3-azabicyclo[3,3,0]octane using the Raschig process results from the following two consecutive reactions: chlorine transfer between the monochloramine and the 3-azabicyclo[3,3,0]octane followed by a dehydrohalogenation of the substituted haloamine. The kinetics of the reaction were studied by HPLC and UV as a function of temperature (15 to 44°C), and the concentrations of NaOH (0.1 to 1 M) and the chlorinated derivative (1 to 4×10⁻³ M). The reaction is bimolecular (k=103×10⁻⁶ M⁻¹ s⁻¹; ΔH^0#=89 kJ mol⁻¹; and ΔS^0#=−33.6 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹) and has an E2 mechanism. The spectral data of 3-azabicyclo[3,3,0]oct-2-ene were determined. IR, NMR, and ES/MS analysis show dimerization of the water-soluble monomer into a white insoluble dimer. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet: 30: 129–136, 1998.     

The crystal structure of a valinomycin•2Ca2+ complex and the multi-step solution equilibria in acetonitrile characterised by 1H NMR,UV–Vis,and mass spectrometry

Valinomycin is a well-known potassium-selective ion carrier, but the nature of its direct interaction with calcium ion, another biologically important cation, is also of considerable interest. We have determined the first crystal structure of a valinomycin–calcium complex, which crystallises exclusively as a 1:2 valinomycin:Ca²⁺ complex, [VCa₂(OTf)₂(H₂O)₂]²⁺ in the solid state (V = valinomycin, OTf = triflate). Along with the 1:2 complex, the solution phase 1:1 and 2:1 complexes have been characterised in acetonitrile by ¹H NMR and UV–Vis titration experiments. The molar absorptivity curves and binding equilibrium constants for these complexes have been determined by the global analysis of the UV–Vis titration data using the program SIVVU?.     

A rare case for binding a diquat salt by two cyclo[6]aramides

The non-aggregational cyclo[6]aramide has demonstrated 2:1 host–guest complexation towards diquat with very strong binding ability (K₁ = 5.41 × 10⁴ M^? 1, K₂ = 4.33 × 10⁶ M^? 1). The donor–acceptor binding process of the macrocycle and the quaternary salt was investigated by ¹H NMR, ESI mass spectrometry and UV–vis spectroscopy. The binding mode is supported by both experiments and theoretical simulations. This work provides the first example of using recently developed H-bonded aromatic oligoamide macrocycles for binding diquat in solution.     

Host–guest interaction of hemicucurbiturils with phenazine hydrochloride salt

The host–guest interactions between phenazine hydrochloride salt (PheH⁺) and hemicucurbit[n]uril (n = 6 or 12) (HemiQ[6 or 12]) have been studied by ¹H NMR, UV–vis, IR, mass spectrometry (MS) and quantum chemistry. In ¹H NMR spectra, the broadening of proton resonances of the hosts suggests the interactions of PheH⁺ with HemiQs. The quantitative stabilities of the host–guest systems have been obtained by UV–vis titration experiments, that is, the stoichiometric interactions of PheH⁺ with HemiQ[6] have been observed with an association constant of K_a = (2.5 ± 1.2) × 10⁶ L mol^? 1, while the 2:1 ratio complexes of PheH⁺ with HemiQ[12] are formed with stepwise association constants of K₁ = (9.2 ± 2.8) × 10⁴ L mol^? 1 and K₂ = (6.4 ± 0.9) × 10⁵ L mol^? 1, respectively, which induce a total association constant of K_a = 5.9 × 10¹⁰ L² mol^? 2. Both the 1:1 and 2:1 complexes have been detected by MS. Quantum chemistry calculations have been used to understand the static structures and thermodynamic stabilities of the supramolecular assemblies.     

Negatively Curved Octagon-Incorporated Aza-nanographene and its Assembly with Fullerenes

A negatively curved aza-nanographene (NG) containing two octagons was synthesized by a regioselective and stepwise cyclodehydrogenation procedure, in which a double aza[7]helicene was simultaneously formed as an intermediate. Their saddle-shaped structures with negative curvature were unambiguously confirmed by X-ray crystallography, thereby enabling the exploration of the structure–property relationship by photophysical, electrochemical and conformational studies. Moreover, the assembly of the octagon-embedded aza-NG with fullerenes was probed by fluorescence spectral titration, with record-high binding constants (K_a=9.5×10³ M⁻¹ with C₆₀, K_a=3.7×10⁴ M⁻¹ with C₇₀) found among reported negatively curved polycyclic aromatic compounds. The tight association of aza-NG with C₆₀ was further elucidated by X-ray diffraction analysis of their co-crystal, which showed the formation of a 1 : 1 complex with substantial concave-convex interactions.     

Gold(III) Complexes of Asymmetrically Aryl‐Substituted 1,2‐Dithiolene Ligands Featuring Potential‐Controlled Spectroscopic Properties: An Insight into the Electronic Properties of bis(Pyren‐1‐yl‐ethylene‐1,2‐dithiolato)Gold(III)

The electrochemical, UV/Vis–NIR absorption, and emission‐spectroscopic features of (TBA⁺)( 1 ⁻) and the corresponding neutral complex 1 were investigated (TBA⁺=tetrabutylammonium; 1 ⁻=[Au^III(Pyr,H‐edt)₂]⁻; Pyr,H‐edt²⁻=pyren‐1‐yl‐ethylene‐1,2‐dithiolato). The intense electrochromic NIR absorption (λ_max=1432 nm; ε=13000 M ⁻¹ cm⁻¹ in CH₂Cl₂) and the potential‐controlled visible emission in the range 400–500 nm, the energy of which depends on the charge of the complex, were interpreted on the grounds of time‐dependent DFT calculations carried out on the cis and trans isomers of 1 , 1 ⁻, and 1 ²⁻. In addition, to evaluate the nonlinear optical properties of 1 ^x− (x=0, 1), first static hyperpolarizability values β_tot were calculated (β_tot=78×10⁻³⁰ and 212×10⁻³⁰ esu for the cis isomer of 1 ⁻ and 1 , respectively) and compared to those of differently substituted [Au(Ar,H‐edt)₂]^x− gold dithiolenes [Ar=naphth‐2‐yl ( 2 ), phenyl ( 3 ); x=0, 1].     

Kinetic study and UV–Vis spectra of 1:2 complexation of free base para‐substituted meso‐tetraphenylporphyrins with trimethylsilyl chloride

The UV–Vis spectra for 1:2 complexation of four different para‐substituted meso‐tetraphenylporphyrin (H₂t(4‐X)pp) and meso‐tetraphenylporphyrins (H₂tpp) with trimethylsilyl chloride (TMSC) displayed large and different redshifts (28–32.4 nm) of Soret and (15–41.7 nm) Q_(0‐0) bands, whereas 1:2 complexation of the less flexible tetramesitylporphyrin (H₂tmp) with TMSC led to rather small redshift (24.8 nm) of the Soret band and blueshift (−7.4 nm) of the Q_(0‐0) band. The varying spectral behavior for the porphyrins complexation seems to essentially reflect the different extent of π‐interactions between the meso‐aryl groups and the presumably saddled porphyrin macrocycle, through their relative coplanarity. The observed order of the rate constants for the complexation of various para‐substituted porphyrins, H₂t(4‐OCH₃)pp (9.27 ± 0.03) × 10⁻³ > H₂t(4‐CH₃)pp (6.68 ± 0.05) × 10⁻³ > H₂tpp (3.2 ± 0.05) × 10⁻³ > H₂t(4‐Cl)pp (8.36 ± 0.06) × 10⁻⁴, clearly demonstrated a higher reaction rate for the porphyrins containing para‐substituents with stronger electron donor ability. The calculated order for porphyrins (0.9 ± 0.1) and for TMSC (1.0 ± 0.1) suggests rate = K[Por][TMSC] for the complexation. Attempts were made to explain the absence of spectral evidence for the presence of an intermediate 1:1 (TMSC) Por adduct in terms of its high reactivity and/or relative instability. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. 39: 231–235, 2007     

新型三脚架苯甲醛苯腙醋酸根选择性比色化学传感器

本文合成了一个新的基于三脚架苯甲醛苯腙的能够选择地检测醋酸根离子的比色化学传感器1。用紫外可见吸收光谱证实了受体1在二甲基亚砜溶液中对醋酸根离子高选择的键合能力超越了其它阴离子。和其他所研究的阴离子相比,其在二甲基亚砜中紫外可见吸收光谱对具有高选择性醋酸根离子的存在显示了应答,当存在（2´10^-5mol·dm^-3）醋酸根离子时其溶液的颜色也由黄色变化到蓝色。当用其他不同的客体阴离子（F^-, Cl^-, Br^-, I^-, H₂PO₄ ^–和 OH^-）处理受体1时,仅出现了很小的紫外可见吸收光谱变化。受体1对醋酸根的结合常数 K_ass为1.69´ 10⁴。     

Encapsulation of AGE‐Breaker Alagebrium by Cucurbit[7]uril Improved the Stability of Both Its Carbonyl α‐Hydrogen and Thiazolium C2‐Hydrogen

As determined by both ¹H NMR and UV/Vis spectroscopic titration, ESI‐MS, isothermal titration calorimetry, and DFT molecular modeling, advanced glycation end products (AGE) breaker alagebrium (ALA) formed 1:1 guest–host inclusion complexes with cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]), with a binding affinity, K_a, in the order of magnitude of 10⁵ m ^?1, thermodynamically driven by both enthalpy (ΔH=?6.79 kcal mol^?1) and entropy (TΔS=1.21 kcal mol^?1). For the first time, a dramatic inhibition of keto–enol tautomerism of the carbonyl α‐hydrogen of ALA has been observed, as evidenced by over an order of magnitude decrease of both the first step rate constant, k₁, and the second step rate constant, k₂, during hydrogen/deuterium exchange in D₂O. Meanwhile, as expected, the reactivity of C2‐hydrogen was also inhibited significantly, with an upshift of 2.09 pK_a units. This discovery will not only provide an emerging host molecule to modulate keto–enol tautomerism, but also potentially lead to a novel supramolecular formulation of AGE‐breaker ALA for improved stability and therapeutic efficacy.     

A Five‐layer π‐Aromatic Structure Formed through Self‐assembly of a Porphyrin Trimer and Two Aromatic Guests

In this study we synthesized two‐ and four‐armed porphyrins – bearing two carboxyl and four 2‐aminoquinolino functionalities, respectively, at their meso positions – as a complementary hydrogen bonding pair for the self‐assembly of a D₂‐symmetric porphyrin trimer host. Two units of the two‐armed porphyrin and one unit of the four‐armed porphyrin self‐assembled quantitatively into the D₂‐symmetric porphyrin trimer, stabilized through ammidinium‐carboxylate salt bridge formation, in CH₂Cl₂ and CHCl₃. The porphyrin trimer host gradually bound two units of 1,3,5‐trinitrobenzene between the pair of porphyrin units, forming a five‐layer aromatic structure. At temperatures below ?40 °C, the rates of association and dissociation of the complexes were slow on the NMR spectroscopic time scale, allowing the 1 : 1 and 1 : 2 complexes of the trimer host and trinitrobenzene guest(s) to be detected independently when using less than 2 eq of trinitrobenzene. Vis titration experiments revealed the values of K₁ (2.1±0.4×10⁵ M^?1) and K₂ (2.2±0.06×10⁴ M^?1) in CHCl₃ at room temperature.     

A Porphyrin Coordination Cage Assembled from Four Silver(I) Triazolyl‐Pyridine Complexes

The synthesis of a zinc(II) porphyrin 1 with four appended triazolyl–pyridine chelates is reported. Complexation of the porphyrin peripheral ligands with Ag^I ions in a 1:2 binding stoichiometry afforded quantitatively the coordination cage [Ag₄( 1 )₂]⁴⁺. The assembly and disassembly processes of the cage were investigated in solution using UV/Vis spectroscopy. The mathematical analysis of the data obtained in the UV/Vis titration of 1 with Ag^I confirmed the assembly in CH₂Cl₂/MeOH (90:10) solution of a species having a 1:2 porphyrin/silver stoichiometry and assigned to it an overall stability constant of 5.0×10²⁶ M ^?5. The use of a model system allowed an independent assessment of a microscopic binding constant value (K_m) for the interaction between the triazolyl‐pyridine ligand and Ag^I. The coincidence that existed between the K_m values extracted from the model system and the titration of 1 provided an indication of the quality and fit of the data analysis. It also allowed the calculation of the average effective molarity (EM) value for the three intramolecular processes that led to the cage assembly as 2.6 mM . Simulated speciation profiles supported the conclusion that at millimolar concentration and working under strict stoichiometric control of the silver/porphyrin ratio, the cage [Ag₄( 1 )₂]⁴⁺ was the species exclusively assembled in solution. On the other hand, when the concentration of added Ag^I was approximately 2.6 mM , 50 % of the coordination cage disassembled into open aggregates.     

Flexibility versus Rigidity: How Conformational Constraint,Steric Hindrance and Solvent Impact Binding between π-Electron Poor Tweezer-Type Hosts and π-Electron Rich Guests

Tweezer-type receptors that form π−π stacked supramolecular complexes are important components in functional polymeric materials and molecular machines. Herein, we study how varying specific structural components of tweezer-receptors impacts their binding. A library of tweezer receptors, each containing two π-electron poor receptor residues and differing by the nature of the linking unit which was either a flexible 2,2′-(ethylenedioxy)bis(ethylamine) residue or a rigid 3,3’’-diamino-m-terphenyl diamine structure, were synthesised. Each tweezer formed 1 : 1 supramolecular complexes with π-electron rich residues (1,5-dihydroxynapthalene and pyrene) as confirmed by UV/Vis and ¹H NMR spectroscopic studies. Binding constants were determined to be between 2.3×10⁻⁵ and 71 M⁻¹ in organic solvents and were one magnitude greater in aqueous solvents for water soluble systems. The nature of the linker had variable effects on the binding constants, showing the design of tweezer type supramolecular receptors with targeted K_a values is non-trivial and requires structural optimisation supported by binding constant determination studies.     

Facile and Reliable Emission-Based Nanomolar Anion Sensing by Luminescent Iridium Receptors Featuring Chelating Halogen-Bonding Sites

An anion sensor is presented that combines a bidentate hydrogen- (HB) or halogen-bonding (XB) site with a luminescent monocationic Ir fragment for strong binding of common anions (K_a up to 6×10⁴ m ⁻¹) with diagnostic emission changes. A new emission-based protocol for fast and reliable detection was derived on the basis of correction for systematic but unspecific background effects. Such a simple correction routine circumvents the hitherto practical limitations of systematic emission-based analysis of anion binding with validated open-source software (BindFit). The anticipated order of K_a values was obeyed according to size and basicity of the anions (Cl>Br=OAc) as well as the donor atom of the receptor (XB: 6×10⁴ m ⁻¹ > HB: 5×10³ m ⁻¹), and led to submicromolar limits of detection within minutes. The results were further validated by advanced NMR techniques, and corroborated by X-ray crystallographic data and DFT analysis, which reproduced the structural and electronic features in excellent agreement. The results suggest that corrected emission-based sensing may become a complementary, reliable, and fast tool to promote the use of XB in various application fields, due to the simple and fast optical determination at high dilution.     

Trace level CN− measurement by ‘turn-on’ emission using Coumarinyl-Benzothiazolyl Schiff base probe in living and non-living environment

Coumarinyl-benzothiazolyl Schiff base (HL) is spectroscopically (FTIR, UV–Vis, NMR, Mass) characterized and the Single Crystal X-Ray Diffraction measurement confirms the structure. The molecule is water insoluble and DMSO solution shows weak emission which may be due to ESIPT assisted H-transfer quenching process. The emission is significantly enhanced in presence of CN⁻, one of the most toxic anions, through ‘turn-on’ emission (λ_em = 449 nm; λ_ex = 350 nm) even in presence of many other anions. The mechanism of sensing towards CN⁻ has been described by ¹H NMR titration which reveals deprotonation of –OH group and nucleophilic attack to the imine (-CHN-) bond. Further, the Job's plot supports 1:1 molar binding ratio, [HL + CN⁻] (K_d, 0.696 x 10⁴ M⁻¹) and has been confirmed by ESI-MS. The detection limit (LOD), 0.75 μM, is third best literature. MTT assay of HL shows no-toxicity up to 100 μM and Intracellular Imaging in MDA-MB 231 cell line has been performed for the sensing of CN⁻.     

Supramolecular array of imizazolylethynyl-zinc-porphyrin

Novel imidazolylethynyl-zinc-porphyrin 1a and its meso,meso-linked bisporphyrin 5M were synthesized effectively by the reaction of the corresponding bromoporphyrins and 2-imidazolylethyne in the presence of palladium-arsenic catalyst. The complementary coordination of monomer 1a into dimer 2a was observed by ¹H NMR and UV–Vis spectroscopy. Self-association constant of 1a to 2a in CHCl₃ (including 0.5% ethanol) was determined as 1.84 × 10⁷ M⁻¹ by UV–Vis titration of 2a with N-methylimidazole. UV–Vis absorption and fluorescence spectra of 1a, 2a, monomer 5M, and its polymer 5P were compared.     

Selective,pH-Dependent Colorimetric and Fluorimetric Detection of Quadruplex DNA with 4-Dimethylamino(phenyl)-Substituted Berberine Derivatives

The 9- and 12-dimethylaminophenyl-substituted berberine derivatives 3 a and 3 b were readily synthesized by Suzuki-Miyaura reactions and shown to be useful fluorescent probes for the optical detection of quadruplex DNA (G4-DNA). Their association with the nucleic acids was investigated by spectrometric titrations, CD and LD spectroscopy, and with DNA-melting analysis. Both ligands bind to duplex DNA by intercalation and to G4-DNA by terminal π stacking. At neutral conditions, they bind with higher affinity (K_b=10⁵−10⁶ M⁻¹) to representative quadruplex forming oligonucleotides 22AG , c-myc , c-kit , and a2 , than to duplex calf thymus (ct) DNA (K_b=5-7×10⁴ M⁻¹). At pH 5, however, the affinity of 3 a towards G4-DNA 22AG is higher (K_b=1.2×10⁶ M⁻¹), whereas the binding constant towards ct DNA is lower (K_b=3.9×10³ M⁻¹) than under neutral conditions. Notably, the association of the ligand with DNA results in characteristic changes of the absorption and emission properties under specific conditions, which may be used for optical DNA detection. Other than the parent berberine, the ligands do not show a noticeable increase of their very low intrinsic emission intensity upon association with DNA at neutral conditions. In contrast, a fluorescence light-up effect was observed upon association to duplex (Φ_fl=0.01) and quadruplex DNA (Φ_fl=0.04) at pH 5. This fluorimetric response to G4-DNA association in combination with the distinct, red-shifted absorption under these conditions provides a simple and conclusive optical detection of G4-DNA at lower pH.     

New anthracene based Schiff base ligands appended Cu(II) complexes: Theoretical study,DNA binding and cleavage activities

New anthracene based Schiff base ligands L ¹ and H( L ² ), their Cu(II) complexes [Cu( L ¹ )Cl₂] ( 1 ) and [Cu( L ² )Cl] ( 2 ) , (where L ¹  = N¹,N²‐bis(anthracene‐9‐methylene)benzene‐1,2‐diamine, L ²  = (2Z,4E)‐4‐(2‐(anthracen‐9‐ylmethyleneamino)phenylimino)pent‐2‐en‐2‐ol) have been prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, NMR, FAB‐mass, EPR, FT‐IR, UV–Vis and cyclic voltammetry. The electronic structures and geometrical parameters of complexes 1 and 2 were analyzed by the theoretical B3LYP/DFT method. The interaction of these complexes 1 and 2 with CT‐DNA has been explored by using absorption, cyclic voltammetric and CD spectral studies. From the electronic absorption spectral studies, it was found that the DNA binding constants of complexes 1 and 2 are 8.7 × 10³ and 7.0 × 10⁴ M^?1, respectively. From electrochemical studies, the ratio of DNA binding constants K₊/K₂₊ for 2 has been estimated to be >1. The high binding constant values, K₊/K₂₊ ratios more than unity and positive shift of voltammetric E_1/2 value on titration with DNA for complex 2 suggest that they bind more avidly with DNA than complex 1 . The inability to affect the conformational changes of DNA in the CD spectrum is the definite evidences of electrostatic binding by the complex 1 . It can be assumed that it is the bulky anthracene unit which sterically inhibits these complexes 1 and 2 from intercalation and thereby remains in the groove or electrostatic. The complex 2 hardly cleaves supercoiled pUC18 plasmid DNA in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. The results suggest that complex 2 bind to DNA through minor groove binding.