Supramolecular assembly and DNA cleavage activity of a nickel(II) complex

A new mononuclear nickel(II) complex, [NiL 2 ] (HL = ((2-(5-fluoro-2-hydroxybenzyl)(2-(imidazole-2-yl)ethyl))imine), has been synthesized and characterized by IR, UV–vis and X-ray diffraction technique. The X-ray crystal structure of the complex shows that the coordination environment around Ni(II) ion is an approximate octahedron. Each molecule connects with four adjacent neighbors through strong hydrogen bonding interactions (N–H···O, d(N–O) = 2.687 Å and ∠N–H···O = 158.3(1)°), forming a supramolecular network. The interaction of the complex with DNA was monitored using agarose gel electrophoresis. The results show that the complex has DNA cleavage activity. The cyclic voltammogram shows one pair of anodic and cathodic peaks with E 1/2 = −1.06 V, assigned to the Ni(II)/Ni(I) couple.