A fluorophore-labelled copper complex: crystal structure, hybrid cyclic water-perchlorate cluster and biological properties

A fluorophore-labelled copper(II) complex, aquabis(dimethylformamide-kappa O)(perchlorato-kappa O)[2-(quinolin-2-yl)-1,3-oxazolo[4,5-f][1,10] phenanthroline] copper(II) perchlorate monohydrate, [Cu(ClO4)(C22H12N4O)(C3H7NO)(2)(H2O)]-ClO4 center dot H2O, has been synthesized and characterized. A cyclic hydrogen-bonded water-perchlorate anionic cluster, i.e. [(ClO4)(2)(H2O)(2)](2-) , has been identified within the structure. Each cyclic anionic cluster unit is interconnected by hydrogen bonding to the cation. The cations join into an infinite hydrogenbonded chain running in the [010] direction. Furthermore, interaction of the complex with calf-thymus DNA (CT-DNA) and cellular localization within the cells was explored. Spectroscopic studies indicate that the compound has a good affinity for DNA and stains the nucleus of the cells.