Synthesis, Crystal Structures, and DNA-Binding Properties of a Ternary Cadmium(II) Complex With Tripod Ligand Tris(2-benzimidazylmethyl)amine and Cinnamate

Abstract

A ternary Cd(II) complex containing a tripodal ligand tris(2-benzimidazylmethyl)amine (ntb) and a cinnamate, with composition [Cd(ntb)(cinnamate)]NO₃·MeOH, was synthesized and characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction revealed that the central Cd(II) atom is six-coordinated in a distorted octahedral geometry. The DNA-binding properties of the Cd(II) complex were investigated by spectrophotometric methods and viscosity measurements, and the results suggested that the Cd(II) complex binds to DNA via intercalation binding mode.

Keyword:

• cadmium(II) complex
• crystal structure
• DNA-binding properties
• tris(2-benzimidazylmethyl)amine

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the financial support and grant from ‘Qing Lan’ Talent Engineering Funds by Lanzhou Jiaotong University. This work also is supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Universities (212086).