Photoinduced DNA and Protein Cleavage Activity of Ferrocene-Appended l-Methionine Reduced Schiff Base Copper(II) Complexes of Phenanthroline Bases

Ferrocene-appended ternary copper(II) complexes of phenanthroline bases having CuN₃OS coordination with an axial Cu−S bond derived from l-methionine reduced Schiff base shows red light induced oxidative DNA cleavage activity following a hydroxyl radical pathway. The dipyridophenazine complex, in addition, displays photoinduced oxidative cleavage of bovine serum albumin protein in UV-A light.