| Summary: | The novel zinc(II) µ-oxo-bridged-dimeric complex [Zn<sub>2</sub>(µ-O)<sub>2</sub>(BMIP)<sub>2</sub>] (BMIP = 1,3-bis(5-methoxy-1-methyl-1<i>H</i>-indol-3-yl)propane-1,3-dione), <b>1</b>, was synthetized and fully characterized. The spectral data indicate a zincoxane molecular structure, with the BMIP ligand coordinating in its neutral form via its oxygen atoms. Structural changes in <b>1</b> in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) were evidenced by means of spectroscopic techniques including infrared absorption and nuclear magnetic resonance, showing DMSO entrance in the coordination sphere of the metal ion. The resulting complex [Zn<sub>2</sub>(µ-O)<sub>2</sub>(BMIP)<sub>2</sub>(DMSO)], <b>2</b>, readily reacts in the presence of <i>N</i>-methyl-imidazole (NMI), a liquid-phase nucleoside mimic, to form [Zn<sub>2</sub>(µ-O)<sub>2</sub>(BMIP)<sub>2</sub>(NMI)], <b>3</b>, through DMSO displacement. The three complexes show high thermal stability, demonstrating that <b>1</b> has high affinity for hard nucleophiles. Finally, with the aim of probing the suitability of this system as model scaffold for new potential anticancer metallodrugs, the interactions of <b>1</b> with calf thymus DNA were investigated in vitro in pseudo-physiological environment through UV-Vis absorption and fluorescence emission spectroscopy, as well as time-resolved fluorescence studies. The latter analyses revealed that [Zn<sub>2</sub>(µ-O)<sub>2</sub>(BMIP)<sub>2</sub>(DMSO)] binds to DNA with high affinity upon DMSO displacement, opening new perspectives for the development of optimized drug substances.
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