Copper( ii ) complexes of 2-methyl-8-hydroxyquinoline and tri/diimine co-ligand: DFT calculations, DNA and BSA binding, DNA cleavage, cytotoxicity and induction of apoptosis

Four-coordinate copper( ii ) complex cleaves supercoiled ϕX174 RF DNA without reductant while five-coordinate complex cleaves with reductant. The cytotoxicity against cancer cells are higher than cisplatin, less-toxic to normal cells and induce apoptosis.