Head-to-head bisbenzazole derivatives as antiproliferative agents: design, synthesis, in vitro activity, and SAR analysis

Benzazole-Based ESIPT Fluorophores: Proton Transfer from the Chalcogen Perspective. A Combined Theoretical and Experimental Study

In this study, we present a comprehensive photophysical investigation of ESIPT-reactive benzazole derivatives in both solution and the solid state. These derivatives incorporate different chalcogen atoms (O, S, and Se) into their structures, and we explore how these variations impact their electronic properties in both ground and excited states. Changes in the UV-Vis absorption and fluorescence emission spectra were analyzed and correlated with the chalcogen atom and solvent polarity. In general, the spectral band of the benzazole derivative containing selenium was redshifted in both the ground and excited states compared to that of its oxygen and sulfur counterparts. Furthermore, we observed that the solvent played a distinctive role in influencing the ESIPT process within these compounds, underscoring once again the significant influence of the chalcogen atom on their photophysical behavior. Theoretical calculations provided a deeper understanding of the molecular dynamics, electronic structures, and photophysical properties of these compounds. These calculations highlighted the effect of chalcogen atoms on the molecular geometry, absorption and emission characteristics, and intramolecular hydrogen bonding, revealing intricate details of the ESIPT mechanism. The integration of experimental and computational data offers a detailed view of the structural and electronic factors governing the photophysical behavior of benzazole derivatives.

Organohalogen chalcones: design, synthesis, ADMET prediction, molecular dynamics study and inhibition effect on acetylcholinesterase and carbonic anhydrase

In an effort to discover potential acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and carbonic anhydrase (CA) inhibitors, a novel series of organohalogen chalcone derivatives (12-20, 23-30) was synthesized, and their chemical structures were characterized by spectral analysis. They showed a highly potent inhibition effect on AChE and hCAs (Ki values range from 5.07 ± 0.062 to 65.53 ± 4.36 nM for AChE, 13.54 ± 2.55 to 94.11 ± 10.39 nM for hCA I, and 5.21 ± 0.54 to 57.44 ± 3.12 nM for hCA II). In addition, the chalcone derivatives with the highest inhibitor score docked into the active site of the indicated metabolic enzyme receptors, and their absorption, metabolism, and toxic properties were evaluated according to ADMET's estimation.Compounds 16 and 19 exhibited the highest inhibition score, emerged as lead compounds, and inspired the development of more potent compounds.

Guerbet upgrading of ethanol to n-butanol using Ru(iii) catalysts under air

A series of in situ prepared Ru(iii) complexes supported by easily accessible N-donor organic pincer ligands were used as catalysts in the Guerbet upgrading reaction of ethanol under aerobic conditions.

Design, synthesis, and computational studies of benzimidazole derivatives as new antitubercular agents

The increase in the drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis has led researchers to new drug targets. The development of new compounds that have effective inhibitory properties with the selective vital structure of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is required in new scientific approaches. The most important of these approaches is the development of inhibitor molecules for Mycobacterium cell wall targets. In this study, first of all, the antitubercular activity of 23 benzimidazole derivatives was experimentally determined. And then molecular docking studies were carried out with 4 different targets: Arabinosyltransferase C (EmbC), Filamentous Temperature Sensitive Mutant Z (FtsZ), Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase B (PtpB), and Decaprenylphosphoryl-β-D-ribose-2'-oxidase (DprE1). It has been determined that benzimidazole derivatives show activity through the DprE1 enzyme. It is known that DprE1, which has an important role in the synthesis of the cell envelope from Arabinogalactan, is also effective in the formation of drug resistance. Due to this feature, the DprE1 enzyme has become an important target for drug development studies. Also, it was chosen as a target for this study. This study aims to identify molecules that inhibit DprE1 for the development of more potent and selective antitubercular drugs. For this purpose, molecular docking studies by AutoDock Vina, and CDOCKER and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and in silico ADME/Tox analysis were implemented for 23 molecules. The molecules exhibited binding affinity values of less than -8.0 kcal/mol. After determining the compound's anti-TB activities by a screening test, the best-docked results were detected using compounds 20, 21, and 30. It was found that 21, was the best molecule with its binding affinity value, which was supported by MD simulations and in silico ADME modeling results.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

New chalcone derivatives as effective against SARS-CoV-2 agent

AIMS

Flavonoids and related compounds, such as quercetin-based antiviral drug Gene-Eden-VIR/Novirin, inhibit the protease of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The alkylated chalcones isolated from Angelica keiskei inhibit SARS-CoV proteases. In this study, we aimed to compare the anti-SARS CoV-2 activities of both newly synthesized chalcone derivatives and these two drugs.

METHODS

Determination of the potent antiviral activity of newly synthesized chalcone derivatives against SARS-CoV-2 by calculating the RT-PCR cycling threshold (C_t ) values.

RESULTS

Antiviral activities of the compounds varied because of being dose dependent. Compound 6, 7, 9, and 16 were highly effective against SARS-CoV-2 at the concentration of 1.60 µg/mL. Structure-based virtual screening was carried out against the most important druggable SARS-CoV-2 targets, viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, to identify putative inhibitors that could facilitate the development of potential anti-coronavirus disease-2019 drug candidates.

CONCLUSIONS

Computational analyses identified eight compounds inhibiting each target, with binding affinity scores ranging from -4.370 to -2.748 kcal/mol along with their toxicological, ADME, and drug-like properties.