Fluorescence Titrations of Bio-relevant Complexes with DNA: Synthesis, Structural Investigation, DNA Binding/Cleavage, Antimicrobial and Molecular Docking Studies.

In the present work, we attempted to develop new metal complexes (Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II)) of the imine ligand which was synthesized from 9,10-phenanthrenequinone and para-anisidine. With an intention to make the complexes most stable, very special chelating amino acid has been coordinated to the metal centre. The resultant metal complexes have been characterized by variety of techniques including FT-IR, UV-Vis., (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, powder XRD, EPR and mass spectral studies. The interaction of the complexes with DNA has been effectively examined and explored by fluorescence titration, UV-Vis absorption, viscometer titration, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry. Moreover, molecular docking analysis has been performed to understand the nature of binding of the complexes with DNA. These studies prove that CT DNA interaction of the complexes follows intercalation mode. The metal complexes exhibit effective cleavage of pUC19 DNA by an oxidative cleavage mechanism. The antimicrobial screening indicates that these complexes are good antimicrobial agents against various organisms.