Synthesis, characterization, DNA binding and nuclease activity of binuclear copper(II) complexes of cuminaldehyde thiosemicarbazones

Binuclear copper(II) complexes of thiosemicarbazones derived from cuminaldehyde (p-isopropyl benzaldehyde) and substituted thiosemicarbazides NH2NHC(S)NHR, where R = H, Me, Et or Ph have been synthesized and characterized. The ESR indicates that the dissociation of dimeric complex into mononuclear [Cu(L)Cl(DMSO)3] units in polar solvents like DMSO, where L = monoanionic thiosemicarbazone. The molecular ion peak in the LC-MS coincides with the formula weight of the complexes. The absorption titration studies revealed that each of these complexes is an avid binder to calf thymus-DNA. The apparent binding constants are in the order of 107–108 M−1. The nucleolytic cleavage activities of the ligands and their complexes were assayed on pUC18 plasmid DNA using gel electrophoresis in the presence and absence of H2O2. The ligands showed increased nuclease activity when administered as copper complexes. All these copper(II) complexes behave as an efficient chemical nucleases with hydrogen peroxide activation. These studies revealed that the complexes exhibit both oxidative and hydrolytic chemistry in DNA cleavage.