Synthesis, crystal structure and properties of dinuclear iron(III) complexes containing terminally coordinated phenolate/H2O/OH− groups as models for purple acid phosphatases: efficient hydrolytic DNA cleavage

The synthesis and the X-ray crystal structures of two dinuclear FeIII complexes (1 and 2) with terminal phenolate ligands are presented. Complex 2 contains a trans-[(OH2)Fe(μ-OR)2Fe(OH2)] core and exhibits some structural and physicochemical properties, which resembles those found in mammalian PAPs. Complex 2 is also capable of promoting the cleavage of plasmid DNA at biological pH values, most probably through a hydrolytic mechanism in which intercalation precedes the reaction.