Potent oxidative DNA cleavage by the di-copper cytotoxin: [Cu2(μ-terephthalate)(1,10-phen)4]2+

The di-copper(II) cation, [Cu(2)(μ-terephthalate)(1,10-phen)(4)](2+), is a powerful, non-sequence-specific, minor-groove oxidizer of duplex DNA which, unlike copper(II) bis-1,10-phenanthroline chloride, operates independently of exogenous reagents. The agent displays excellent in vitro cytoxicity towards cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cells, producing intracellular reactive oxygen species upon nano-molar exposure.