A new nickel(II) complex [Ni(L)] (1) [H₂L = 1,1′-(1E,1′E)-(propane-1,3-diylbis(azan-1-yl-1-ylidene))bis(methan-1-yl-1-ylidene)dinaphthalen-2-ol] was synthesized and X-ray crystallographically characterized. 1 crystallizes in orthorhombic crystal system with Cmc21 space group. The unit cell dimensions of the crystal are a = 30.6345(4)Å, b = 8.45340(10)Å, c = 7.75180(10)Å. Structural analysis reveals a tetradentate chelation behaviour of the dianionic ligand H₂L having a distorted square planar geometry around Ni(II) with NiN₂O₂ chromophore in 1. The title complex 1 behaves as an effective catalyst towards oxidation of 3,5-ditertiarybutyl catechol (3,5-DTBC) in acetonitrile to its corresponding quinone derivative in air. The reaction follows first-order reaction kinetics with rate constant 4.28 × 10⁻⁵ min^-1. The reaction follows Michaelis-Menten enzymatic kinetics with a turnover number of ($K_{cat}$) 140.72 h^-1 in acetonitrile.

Synthesis and characterization of a mononuclear Ni(II) compound [Ni(L)(H₂O)₂](NO₃)₂ [L = N,N'-bis((pyridine-2-yl)phenylidene)-1,3-diaminopropan-2-ol] (1) is reported. 1 crystallizes in triclinic P-1 space group with a = 8.1911(2) Å, b = 11.6624(3) Å, c = 16.5356(4) Å and𝛼 = 108.8120(10)° , 𝛽 = 91.2010(10)° , 𝛾 = 91.1500(10)° . The binding property of the complex with DNA has been investigated using absorption and emission studies, and viscosity experiment. The binding constant (K_b) and the linear Stern-Volmer quenching constant (K_sv) of the complex have been determined as 9.23 × 10 4 M⁻¹ and 2.0 × 10 4 M⁻¹, respectively. Spectroscopic and hydrodynamic investigations revealed groove or electrostatic nature of binding of 1 with DNA. 1 is also found to induce oxidative cleavage of the supercoiled pUC 18 DNA to its nicked circular form in a concentration dependent manner.