A Schiff base bis(N-salicylidene)-3-oxapentane-1,5-diamine and its yttrium(III) complex: synthesis, crystal structure, DNA-binding properties, and antioxidant activities

A Schiff base bis(N-salicylidene)-3-oxapentane-1,5-diamine (H2L) and its yttrium(III) (Y(III))complex, Y2L2(NO3)(2)2H2O, have been synthesized and characterized by physico-chemical and spectroscopic methods. The crystal structure of the Y(III) complex has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, revealing a centrosymmetric binuclear neutral entity where Y(III) centers are bridged by two phenoxo oxygens. The DNA-binding properties of the Schiff base H2L and the Y(III) complex were investigated by spectrophotometric methods and viscosity measurements. The results suggest that ligand H2L and Y(III) complex both bind to DNA via groove binding, and the Y(III) complex binds to DNA more strongly than H2L. The antioxidant activity of the Y(III) complex was determined by superoxide and hydroxyl radical-scavenging method in vitro, which indicates that Y(III) complex scavenges OH and O-2 (-) radicals.