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)(C22H12N4O)(C3H7NO)2(H2O)]ClO4·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 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.
Keywords: copper; crystal structure; cyclic cluster; fluorophore; water–perchlorate cluster.