Synthesis, chemical characterization, DNA binding and antioxidant studies of ferrocene incorporated selenoure

In this article we have reported synthesis, chemical characterization (with single crystal XRD, elemental analysis, FTIR and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy), DNA binding (with cyclic voltammetry, UV–vis spectroscopy, molecular docking and viscometry) and antioxidant activities (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl scavenging) of 1-(2-methylbenzoyl)-3-(3-ferrocenylphenyl)selenourea (MOT). We found that this compound interacts electrostatically with DNA and has a binding constant value of 1.703 × 104 M−1. Lower value of diffusion coefficient for MOT-DNA adduct (1.35 × 106 cm2 s−1) relative to free MOT (1.66 × 106 cm2 s−1) in cyclic voltammetry (CV) indicated the binding of the compound with DNA. Smaller value of binding site size (0.88 base pairs) in CV, hyperchromism in UV–vis spectroscopy and decrease of relative specific viscosity of DNA in viscometry favored electrostatic interactions. Binding energy of experimental (−5.77 kcal mol−1) and simulated (−5.86 kcal mol−1) work are in close agreement with each other. IC50 value of MOT for 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl scavenging was found to be 27 μM.