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

A fluorophore-labelled copper(II) complex, aquabis(dimethylformamide-κO)(perchlorato-κO)[2-(quinolin-2-yl)-1,3-oxazolo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline]copper(II) perchlorate monohydrate, [Cu(ClO4 )(C22 H12 N4 O)(C3 H7 NO)2 (H2 O)]ClO4 ·H2 O, has been synthesized and characterized. A cyclic hydrogen-bonded water-perchlorate anionic cluster, i.e. [(ClO4 )2 (H2 O)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 hydrogen-bonded 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.