Synthesis, characterization, crystal structure, and DNA binding of two copper(II)-hydrazone complexes

Two new Cu(II)-hydrazone complexes, [Cu(L)(Hbpe)ClO₄]·ClO₄·[Cu(L)Cl] (1) and [Cu(HL)₂]·1.5ClO₄·0.5OH (2) (where HL = (E)-N'-(1-(pyridine-2-yl)ethylidene)benzohydrazide and bpe = trans-1-(2-pyridyl)-2-(4-pyridyl)ethylene), have been synthesized and characterized by physicochemical methods. The structures of the complexes have been established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction direct methods, which reveal that the metal ions have distorted square-pyramidal and square-planar geometries in 1, and a distorted octahedral geometry in 2. DNA binding of HL, 1, and 2, performed by UV-vis titration in tris-buffer medium, yielded binding constants, which are 9.5 × 10³, 1.88 × 10⁴, and 4.66 × 10⁴ M^-1, respectively. Viscosity measurements suggest a surface or groove-binding mode of interaction between CT-DNA with HL, 1, and 2.