DNA cleavage activities of tetraazamacrocyclic oxamido nickel(II) complexes

The DNA cleavage activities of four closely related Schiff base macrocyclic oxamido nickel(II) complexes NiL1 ∼ NiL4 are compared. In the absence of any added redox cofactors, NiL3 can cleavage DNA effectively. There are O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds and Ni⋯O and Ni⋯L van der Waals forces in the crystal structure of NiL3 methanol solvate. The DNA cleavage kinetics of NiL3 has been studied in detail.