The reaction of N-tosylatirdine with 1,2-diaminopropane in dry benzene solution yields an intermediate H2L, N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-(p-tolylsulfonyl)aminoethyl) propane-1,2-diamine. The mononuclear copper(Ⅱ) complex, [CuLH2O]·H2O, was synthesized by the reaction between the intermediate and copper(Ⅱ) in absolute methanol. The complex has been characterized by IR, UV-vis and X-ray diffraction technology, and its crystal crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, space group Pbca with a = 15.589(1), b = 21.897(2), c = 27.645(2) , V = 9436.4(1) 3, Dc = 1.352 g/cm3, Z = 8, Mr = 960.68, F(000) = 4040, μ(MoKa) = 0.698 mm-1, S = 0.98, R = 0.0537 and wR = 0.1180 for 5804 observed reflections (I > 2σ(I)). In the crystal structure, a one-dimensional chain is formed by abundant hydrogen bond interactions. The interaction of the complex with DNA was monitored using agarose gel electrophoresis. The result shows that the complex can transform the supercoiled to nicked and liner forms, and has a concentration-dependent cleavage activity.
