Synthesis, characterization and DNA binding studies of a zinc complex with 2,6-bis(benzimidazol-2-yl) pyridine

Abstract A zinc(II) complex having planar tridentate ligand, bzimpy, where bzimpy is 2,6-bis(benzimidazol-2-yl) pyridine was synthesized and characterized by UV, NMR, infrared spectroscopy and fluorescence spectra. The zinc complex acts as dibasic acids, in which N–H protons on benzimidazole moieties are responsible for a deprotonation site. Both the absorption spectra and reduction potentials are strongly dependent on the solution pH, which leads to the basis of a proton-induced molecular switch. The binding of this complex with calf thymus DNA has been investigated by absorption, luminescence titrations and viscosity measurements. The results suggest that the zinc(II) complex intercalates into DNA base pairs via the ligand bzimp.