Syntheses and structures of bicopper(II) complexes bridged by N-(5-chloro-2-hydroxyphenyl)-N′-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]oxamide: Cytotoxic activities, and reactivities towards DNA and protein

► Two bicopper(II) complexes with different terminal ligands were synthesized. ► The two complexes were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. ► The two complexes exhibit cytotoxicities against SMMC-7721 and A549 cell lines. ► The DNA-binding abilities are consistent with cytotoxicities in order 2 > 1. ► The protein binding ability has also been monitored.