Synthesis, crystal structure, DNA- and albumin-binding properties of a chromium(III) complex with 1,10-phenanthroline and a Schiff base derived from glycine

A new Cr(III) complex, [CrCl(sal-gly)phen]center dot 0.5H(2)O (sal-gly = Schiff base derived from salicylaldehyde and l-glycine), has been synthesized and characterized by physicochemical methods. There are two independent complex molecules and a water molecule in each asymmetric unit. Each Cr(III) atom is six-coordinated in a distorted octahedral coordination environment. In the crystal, a 3D network is formed via intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The interactions between the Cr(III) complex and calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) and Bovine serum albumin (BSA) have been studied by spectroscopic methods. The results show that the complex binds to CT-DNA in an intercalative mode, and it can also bind to BSA and produce conformational changes in the protein.