Synthesis, Characterization and DNA Cleavage Activity of the Coordination Polymer {[Cu}.sub.n

A one-dimensional {[Cu(phen)(azpy)(NO.sub.3)(H.sub.2O)]·(NO.sub.3)}.sub.n coordination polymer (1), where azpy = 4,4'-azopyridine and phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR and UV-Visible spectroscopy, thermal analysis and single crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD). The SCXRD shows that compound (1) forms a zig-zag, one-dimensional (1D) coordination polymer through the bridging azpy spacer. The 1D polymer chains self-assemble to form a three-dimensional network through hydrogen-bonding, [pi]-[pi] stacking and ion-dipole interactions. The N.sub.4O.sub.2 coordination sphere of copper(II) involves two nitrogens from different azpy's, two nitrogens from phen, one oxygen from water and one oxygen from a nitrate anion. Thermal studies reveal that the coordination polymer (1) is thermally stable upto 166 °C. Compound (1) cleaves plasmid pBR322 DNA by an oxidative mechanism involving hydroxyl and superoxide radicals at low concentrations. Graphical A one-dimensional {[Cu(phen)(azpy)(NO.sub.3)(H.sub.2O)]·(NO.sub.3)}.sub.n coordination polymer (1), where azpy = 4,4'-azopyridine and phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, has been synthesized, characterized and plasmid pBR322 DNA cleavage activity has been investigated.