Characterization and DNA-interaction studies of 1,1-dicyano-2,2-ethylene dithiolate Ni(II) mixed-ligand complexes with 2-amino-5-methyl thiazole, 2-amino-2-thiazoline and imidazole. Crystal structure of [Ni(i-MNT)(2a-5mt)(2)].

A series of mixed-ligand neutral nickel(II) complexes of the general formula [Ni(i-MNT)(2a-5mt)(2)] (1), [Ni(i-MNT)(2a-2tzn)(2)] (2) and [Ni(i-MNT)(Im)(2)] (3), [where i-MNT(2-)=the dianion of 1,1-dicyano-2,2-ethylenedithiolate, 2a-5mt=2-amino-5-methyl thiazole, 2a-2tzn=2-amino-2-thiazoline and Im=imidazole] were prepared and characterized with elemental analyses, spectroscopic (IR, UV-vis) methods, magnetic susceptibility, molar conductivity and cyclic voltammetry measurements. The magnetic data, the electronic spectra and the electrical conductivity measurements indicated mononuclear neutral complexes with square-planar geometry. The X-ray analysis of [Ni(i-MNT)(2a-5mt)(2)] shows the nickel atom being fourfold coordinated with the two sulfur atoms of the dithiolate (i-MNT) ligand and the endocyclic nitrogen atoms from the two 2a-5mt ring giving rise to a slightly distorted square-planar arrangement. The cyclic voltammograms of the complexes have been recorded and the corresponding redox potentials have been estimated. The DNA-binding studies of the complexes has been evaluated by examining their ability to bind to calf-thymus DNA (CT DNA) with UV spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Both studies have shown that the complexes can bind to CT-DNA by the intercalative and the electrostatic binding mode. Competitive binding studies with ethidium bromide (EB) with fluorescence spectroscopy have also shown that the complexes exhibit the ability to displace the DNA-bound EB indicating that they can bind to DNA in strong competition with EB.