Hydrolytic DNA cleavage promoted by a dinuclear iron(III) complex

The dinuclear iron complex [Fe2III(BPClNOL)2(H2O)2](ClO4)2 (1) [N–(2-hydroxybenzyl)–N–(pyridylmethyl)[(3-chloro)(2-hydroxy)]propylamine] was investigated focusing on its hydrolytic activity towards phosphate esters and DNA. The activity was evaluated within the pH range 6.1–8.0 when the hydroxo molecules are coordinated to the FeIII centers of (1). The complex did not show hydrolytic activity on the 4-nitrophenyl phosphate and bis(2,4-dinitrophenyl)phosphate. However, the complex successfully promoted the hydrolytic cleavage of plasmid DNA, producing single and double DNA strand breaks.