Synthesis, Crystal Structure, Antioxidation and DNA-Binding Studies of a Zinc(II) Complex with the Bis(N-allylbenzimidazol-2-ylmethyl)aniline

A complex of zinc(II) picrate (pic) with bis(N-allylbenzimidazol-2-ylmethyl)aniline (abba), with composition [Zn(abba)(2)](pic)(2), was synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, electrical conductivity, IR and UV/Vis spectral measurements. The crystal structure of the zinc(H) complex has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The Zn(II) is bonded to two abba ligands through four benzimidazole nitrogen, resulting in a distorted tetrahedron geometry. The DNA-binding properties of the ligand and the zinc(II) complex were investigated by electronic absorption, fluorescence spectra and viscosity measurements. The experimental results suggest that the zinc(II) complex binds to DNA in an intercalation mode. In addition, the ligand abba and Zn(II) complex have scavenging effects for hydroxyl radicals and the complex shows stronger scavenging effects for hydroxyl radicals than the ligand.