Synthesis, Characterization and DNA Interaction Studies of (N,N'-Bis(5-phenylazosalicylaldehyde)-ethylenediamine) Cobalt(II) Complex

In the present study, at first, azo Schiff base ligand of (N,N'-bis(5-phenylazosalicylaldehyde)-ethylenediamine) ($H_2L$) has been synthesized by condensation reaction of 5-phenylazosalicylaldehyde and ethylenediamine in 2:1 molar ratio, respectively. Then, its cobalt complex (CoL) was synthesized by reaction of $Co(OAc)_2{\cdot}4H_2O$ with ligand ($H_2L$) in 1:1 molar ratio in ethanol solvent. This ligand and its cobalt complex containing azo functional groups were characterized using elemental analysis, $^1H$-NMR, UV-vis and IR spectroscopies. Subsequently, the interaction between native calf thymus deoxyribonucleic acid (ct-DNA) and CoL complex was investigated in 10 mM Tris/HCl buffer solution, pH = 7 using UV-vis absorption, thermal denaturation technique and viscosity measurements. From spectrophotometric titration experiments, the binding constant of CoL complex with ct-DNA was found to be $(2.4{\pm}0.2){\times}10^4M^{-1}$. The thermodynamic parameters were calculated by van't Hoff equation.The enthalpy and entropy changes were $5753.94{\pm}172.66kcal/mol$ and $43.93{\pm}1.18cal/mol{\cdot}K$ at $25^{\circ}C$, respectively. Thermal denaturation experiments represent the increasing of melting temperature of ct-DNA (about $0.93^{\circ}C$) due to binding of CoL complex. The results indicate that the process is entropy-driven and suggest that hydrophobic interactions are the main driving force for the complex formation.