Crystal structure and nuclease activity of mono(1,10-phenanthroline) copper complex.

The hydroxo-bridged dinuclear copper (II)/phen complex [Cu(2)(phen)(2)(OH)(2)(H(2)O)(2)][Cu(2)(phen)(2)(OH)(2)Cl(2)]Cl(2).6H(2)O (phen=1,10-phenanthroline) has been prepared and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The coordinated area of the complex shows two distorted [CuN(2)O(2)O(w)] and [CuN(2)O(2)Cl] square-pyramidal and one strictly planar configuration CuO(2)Cu involving two O atoms of hydroxo-bridged, Cu(2+) cations, N atoms of two phen ligands and disorder solvate water and chlorine anions. In the presence of H(2)O(2), the complex of mono(1,10-phenanthroline)copper exhibits higher activity as a nuclease than bis(1,10-phenanthroline)copper.