Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Amide Coupling Reaction for the Synthesis of Bispyridine-based Ligands and Their Complexation to Platinum as Dinuclear Anticancer Agents
Published on: May 28, 2014
Synthesis and DNA-cleavage activities of dinuclear copper(II) complexes of urea-bridged macrocyclic polyamines
1Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, P. R. China.
Abstract:
Two dinuclear macrocyclic polyamine copper(II) (Cu(II)) complexes, which have two cyclen units linked by urea, were synthesized as DNA-cleavage agents. The structures of these new dinuclear complexes were identified by HR-ESI-MS and IR analyses. The catalytic activities of DNA cleavage of these dinuclear Cu(II) complexes were subsequently studied. The results show that 6a was the better catalyst in the DNA-cleavage process than 6b. The effects of reaction time and concentration of complexes were also investigated. The results indicate, that the Cu(II) complexes could catalyze the cleavage of supercoiled DNA (pUC 19 plasmid DNA; Form I) under physiological conditions to produce selectively nicked DNA (Form II; no Form III was produced) with high yields (nearly 100%) in short time in the absence of reductant or oxidant.
Related Concept Videos
Preparation of 1° Amines: Azide Synthesis
Azide ions act as good nucleophiles and react with unhindered alkyl halides to form alkyl azides. Alkyl azides do not participate in further nucleophilic substitution reactions, thereby eliminating the chances of polyalkylated products. Alkyl azides are reduced by hydride-based reducing agents, like lithium aluminum...
Aryldiazonium Salts to Azo Dyes: Diazo Coupling
Aldehydes and Ketones with Amines: Imine and Enamine Formation Overview
Preparation of 1° Amines: Hofmann and Curtius Rearrangement Mechanism
Preparation of Amides
The DCC-promoted synthesis of amides begins with the protonation of DCC by carboxylic acid. The protonation makes it a better acceptor. Next, the addition of carboxylate to the protonated carbodiimide gives a reactive acylating agent.
Subsequently, the amine acts as a nucleophile that attacks the acylating agent to form a tetrahedral intermediate. In the...
Biosynthesis of Nucleic Acids

