A Six-Coordinate Picrate Nickel(II) Complex Based on the V-Shaped Ligand 1,3-Bis (1-Benzylbenzimidazol-2-yl)-2-Thiapropane: Synthesis, Crystal Structure, Biological Activities

Abstract

A six-coordinate picrate nickel(II) complex based on the V-shaped ligand 1,3-bis(1-benzylbenzimidazol-2-yl)-2-thiapropane (L), with the composition [Ni(L)₂](pic)₂, has been synthesized and characterized systematically. The crystal structure of the Ni(II) complex is a six-coordinated octahedron, which is considerably close to ideal octahedral geometry with N₄S₂ donors of the two ligands. Biological activities of compounds were investigated using electronic absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and viscosity measurements. The results suggested that both ligand L and Ni(II) complex bind to DNA in an intercalative binding mode, and DNA-binding affinity of the Ni(II) complex is stronger than that of ligand L.

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GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Keywords:

• 1,3-Bis(1-benzylbenzimidazol-2-yl)-2-thiapropane
• nickel(II) complex
• crystal structure
• biological activity

Acknowledgments

The present research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant no. 21367017), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Gansu Province Universities (212086), National Natural Science Foundation of Gansu Province (Grant no. 1212RJZA037), and “Qing Lan” Talent Engineering Funds for Lanzhou Jiaotong University.