Synthesis, characterization and DNA-binding studies of 2-carboxybenzaldehydeisonicotinoylhydrazone and its La(III), Sm(III) and Eu(III) complexes

2-Carboxybenzaldehydeisonicotinoylhydrazone (HL), and its three lanthanide complexes, LnL3·4H2O [Ln = La(1), Sm(2), Eu(3)], have been synthesized and characterized on the basis of elemental analyses, molar conductivities, IR spectra and thermal analyses. In addition, the DNA-binding properties of the ligand and its complexes have been investigated by absorption, fluorescence and viscosity measurements. The experimental results indicated that the complexes (2) and (3) can bind to DNA, but the ligand and the complex (1) cannot; the binding affinity of the complex (3) is higher than that of the complex (2) and the intrinsic binding constant Kb of the complex (3) is 7.86 × 104 M−1.