A trigonal-prismatic Ag(I) complex and an octahedral Cu(II) complex incorporating with oxamide Ni(II) complex ligand: Syntheses, crystal structures and oxidative nuclease activities

► Cu(NiL3a)2 and Ag(NiL3a)2 heterometallic complexes as synthetic nucleases. ► Ag(I) ion in a rarely reported trigonal-prismatic coordination geometry. ► Cu(NiL3a)2 shows obviously higher DNA cleavage activity than NiL3a. ► Kinetics of DNA cleavage by Cu(NiL3a)2 in the present H2O2 was studied. ► Cu(NiL3a)2 binds to DNA by a groove binding mode.