Interaction with DNA of a heteronuclear [Na2Cu4] coordination cluster obtained from the assembly of two hydroxo-bridged [Cu(II)2] units by a dimeric sodium nitrate template.

The heteronuclear [Na(2)Cu(4)(bemp)(2)(OH)(2)(NO(3))(2)(OH(2))(4)] x 5 H(2)O (1 x 5H(2)O; H(3)bemp: 2,6-bis-[(2-hydroxyethylimino)-methyl]-4-methyl-phenol) cluster has been synthesized in aqueous-methanol at room temperature and structurally characterized. The water soluble complex is obtained from the template assembly of two [Cu(2)(bemp)(OH)] neutral fragments through their weak oxophillic interactions with two interconnected NaNO(3) units as core. Four [Na(2)Cu(4)] units form a metal-organic cage arrangement in the crystal lattice that traps a (H(2)O)(7) cluster. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements (2-300 K) reveals a strong antiferromagnetic coupling between the Cu(II) ions within the dimers with J = -124.1 cm(-1) (in the H = -2JS(1)S(2) convention). The interaction of complex 1 x 3H(2)O with calf thymus DNA (binding constant K(b), 4.6 x 10(4) M(-1)) in Tris buffer was studied by UV-visible and emission titration, and cyclic voltammetry. The hexanuclear Na(2)Cu(4) complex also binds double-stranded supercoiled plasmid pBR322 DNA and displays efficient hydrolytic cleavage. The hydrolytic mechanism is supported by evidence from DNA relegation employing T4 ligase assay and reactive oxygen species (ROS) quenching cleavage experiments.