Synthesis, structural characterization, and DNA binding/cleavage studies of diorganotin(IV) carboxylates and their complexes with 1,10-phenanthroline: X-ray structures of [Me8Sn4(p-FC6H4CO2)4O2], [Bu2Sn(p-NO2C6H4CO2)2.phen], and DFT studies

•Diorganotin(IV) carboxylates and their phenanthroline complexes have been synthesized and characterized.•Bu2Sn(p-NO2C6H4CO2)2.phen possesses a pentagonal bipyramidal geometry around Sn atom.•UV-visible, fluorescence and circular dichroism (CD) titrations showed their efficient interaction with Calf Thymus DNA (CT-DNA).•Kb and KSV values in the order of 103–104 M−1 indicate minor groove intercalation.•All the complexes have efficiently cleaved plasmid pBR322 DNA into three bands.