A novel red copper(II) compound, bis(μ-bromo)bis(2-(benzothiazol-2-yl-hydrazono)-1,2-diphenyl-ethanone)-dicopper(II) (1), has been fostered by equimolar reaction of a Schiff-base ligand, 2-(benzothiazol-2-yl-hydrazono)-1,2-diphenyl-ethanone (LH), with copper(II) bromide in satisfactory yield. 1 has thoroughly been characterized by C, H and N elemental analyses, FT-IR and UV-vis (both in solid state and in solution) spectroscopies, and room-temperature magnetic susceptibility and conductivity measurements. Dimeric 1 bears symmetric rare bromo-bridges in its crystal structure. 1 retains its solid-state identity even in a protic solvent like methanol. 1 in methanol displays two-step one-electron redox response. Theoretical calculations based on DFT were executed to probe the electronic structure of 1 and to augment its color. DNA- and RNA-binding aspects of both LH and 1 have been explored. Thermodynamic binding parameters have been determined. LH is a major-groove binder to DNA, while 1 manifests itself as a minor-groove binder. This binding has been corroborated through molecular docking. Nucleic acid binding aspect of such type of rare bromo-bridged red copper(II) dimer is unprecedented.
