Complexation behavior of imidazoline hydrazones towards Cu2+ and Hg2+: Structure, sensing and DNA binding studies

Two water soluble heteroyclic hydrazone ligands exhibit different complexation behavior toward Hg2+ and Cu2+ as authenticated by single crystal X-ray diffractometry. The ligand 2-acetyl pyridine 2-imidazoline hydrazone hydrobromide was investigated as a colorimetric and ratiometric chemosensor for Cu2+ and the binuclear Cu2+ complex of this ligand shows DNA binding activity.