Abstract: There are a couple of quasi-reversible redox peaks of Cu(Ⅱ)-imidazole[Cu(Ⅱ)Im₄] with one electron process on Pt electrode. Fluorescence spectroelectrochemical experiments reveal that the Cu(Ⅰ) complex reduced by electrochemistry can be reoxidized by O₂ in air. In neutral Tris-HCl buffer, {Cu(Ⅱ)Im₄} can bind to DNA with the binding constant of 2.7×10 2 L/mol. Obviously, this is a weak interaction. However, it is an intercalative model which has been identified by the experiments of fluorescence and electrochemistry. A novel method for the cleavage of DNA by the electrochemically-induced process of the reduction of Cu(Ⅱ)Im₄ is established and differential scanning calorimetries(DSC) are used to detect the results of DNA cleavage.

Key words: Electrochemical induction, Cu(Ⅱ)-imidazole complex, DNA cleavage