Abstract

Six new binuclear copper(II) complexes have been prepared by template condensation of the dialdehydes 1,8-[bis(3-formyl-2-hydroxy-5-methyl)benzyl]-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (PC-a) and 1,8-[bis(3-formyl-2-hydroxy-5-bromo)benzyl]-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (PC-b) with appropriate aliphatic diamines, and copper(II) perchlorate. The structural features of the complexes have been confirmed by elemental analysis, IR, UV-vis and mass spectra etc. The electrochemical behavior of all the copper(II) complexes show two irreversible one electron reduction process. The room temperature magnetic moment studies depict the presence of an antiferromagnetic interaction in the binuclear complexes. The catechol oxidation and hydrolysis of 4-nitrophenylphosphate were carried out by using the complexes as catalyst. The antimicrobial screening data show good results. The binding of the complexes to calf thymus DNA (CT DNA) has been investigated with absorption and emission spectroscopy. The complex [Cu2Lla] displays significant cleavage property of circular plasmid pBR322 DNA in to linear form. Spectral, electrochemical, magnetic and catalytic studies support the distortion of the copper ion geometry that arises as the macrocyclic ring size increases.