Syntheses, X-ray crystal structures, DNA binding, oxidative cleavage activities and antimicrobial studies of two Cu(II) hydrazone complexes

From a mononuclear Cu(II)-hydrazone complex [Cu(PBH)₂] (1), one μ_1,1-azido bridged dinuclear Cu(II) complex having the formula [{Cu(PBH)(μ_1,1-NNN)}₂] (2) (where HPBH = 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde benzoyl hydrazone) has been synthesised. Both the complexes are characterised by elemental analyses, IR and UV–Vis spectroscopic studies. The tridentate hydrazone pro-ligand (HPBH) is obtained by the condensation of benzhydrazide and pyridine-2-carboxaldehyde. The structures of the complexes have conclusively been established by the X-ray single crystal diffraction method. Complex 1 and 2 both display DNA binding ability, which is ascertained by UV–Vis titration and cyclic voltammetric studies using calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA). The apparent binding constants (K_app) are of moderate values and are 2.048 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ (±0.006) and 1.644 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ (±0.005), respectively. The modes of binding of the complexes with CT-DNA has been investigated using circular dichroism, ethidium bromide displacement assay and viscosity measurements. The cleavage properties of these complexes as well as the free pro-ligand with super coiled (SC) pUC19 are studied using the gel electrophoresis method, where both the complexes displayed chemical nuclease activity in the presence of H₂O₂ via an oxidative mechanism. The antimicrobial study using the free pro-ligand, 1 and 2 against both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria are performed, 2 showed antimicrobial activity against both Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria whereas the free ligand and 1 show no antibacterial activity.