Spectroscopic and molecular structure investigation of 2-furanacrylic acid monomer and dimer using HF and DFT methods

The molecular structure, vibrational spectra, solvation effect, non-covalent interactions investigations of psilocin

Psilocin, or 4-HO-DMT (or 3-(2-dimethylaminoethyl)-1H-indol-4-ol), is a psychoactive alkaloid substance from the tryptamine family, isolated from Psilocybe mushrooms. This substance is being studied by various research groups because it has a clear therapeutic effect in certain dosages. In this work, the study of the structure and properties of psilocin was carried using theoretical methods: the effects of polar solvents (acetonitrile, dimethylsulfoxide, water, and tetrahydrofuran) on the structural parameters, spectroscopic properties (Raman, IR, and UV-Vis), frontier molecular orbital (FMO), molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) surface, and nonlinear optical parameters (NLO). Theoretical calculations were performed at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level by the density functional theory (DFT) method. IEFPCM was used to account for solvent effects. The types and nature of non-covalent interactions (NCI) between psilocin and solvent molecules were determined using Atoms in Molecules (AIM), the reduced density gradient method (RDG), the electron localization function (ELF), and the localization orbital locator (LOL). Experimental and calculated FT-IR, FT-Raman, and UV-Vis spectra were compared and found to be in good agreement.

Studies on crystal growth, experimental, structural, DFT, optical, thermal and biological studies of 3-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde single crystals

The organic 3-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde single crystal has been grown by the slow evaporation technique. Single crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD) study shows that the grown crystal belongs to a monoclinic crystal system with centrosymmetric space group P2₁/c. The spectral analysis of 3-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde calculations was performed with the help of DFT at the B3LYP/6-311 + G(d,p) level of theory. The experimental results of FTIR and FT-Raman were compared with the computational results. Detailed interpretations of the vibrational spectra were carried out with the aid of vibrational energy distribution analysis using potential energy distribution (PED) analysis and vibrational wavenumber scaled by the WLS (Wavenumber Linear Scaling) method. The natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis was carried out to identify intramolecular hydrogen bonding. The optical properties of the grown crystal were analyzed by UV-Visible studies. Photoluminescence studies show that the high-intensity peak observed around 410 nm. The laser damage threshold value of the grown crystal has been determined using an Nd:YAG laser operating at 1064 nm. The HOMO (Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital) - LUMO (Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbital) was used to identify the energy gap. Hirshfeld Surface (HS) analysis was used to determine the intermolecular interactions. The thermal properties of the grown crystal were performed by Thermogravimetric (TG) and Differential thermal analyses (DTA). The kinetic and thermodynamic parameters were calculated. The surface morphology of the grown crystal was studied by using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis. The antibacterial and antifungal studies were analyzed.

Synthesis, Characterization, Computational Studies, Molecular Docking, and In Vitro Anticancer Activity of Dihydropyrano[3,2-c]chromene and 2-Aminobenzochromene Derivatives

2-Aminobenzochromenes and dihydropyranochromenes represent a unique class of biologically active compounds. Recent organic syntheses focus on the development of environmentally benign synthetic protocols, and as a part of this concept, we have taken a considerable interest in the synthesis of this class of biologically active compounds using an environment-friendly, reusable heterogeneous Amberlite IRA 400-Cl resin catalyst. This work further aims to highlight the importance and advantages of these compounds and to compare the experimental data obtained with those of the theoretical calculations made using the density functional theory (DFT) method. Molecular docking studies on the selected compounds were also carried out to study the effectiveness of these compounds in liver fibrosis treatment. Furthermore, we have performed molecular docking studies and an in vitro study of the anticancer activity of dihydropyrano[3,2-c]chromenes and 2-aminobenzochromenes against human colon cancer cells [HT29].

Cuspareine as alkaloid against COVID-19 designed with ionic liquids: DFT and docking molecular approaches

Cuspareine as an antiviral alkaloid can be used in the treatment of COVID-19. In this study, we introduced the ionic liquids (ILs) concluded cuspareinium as a cation with CH₃COO^-, CF₃COO^-, and PF₆ as anions. The optimized geometry, thermodynamic parameters, and reactivity descriptors were calculated with density functional theory (DFT) approach and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) using B3LYP/6-311G. In addition, the UV and IR spectra of the introduced ILs were investigated. Based on DFT calculation, the designed IL CH₃COO^- can be to the most suitable anions due to most solubility in the water. DFT studies displayed that all the introduced ILs have more polarity than pristine cuspareine and CH3COO^--cuspareine is the most polarity due to high dipole moment. Also, the thermo- chemical data of the designed ionic liquids revealed that PF6-cuspareine is distinguished to be stable. A molecular docking study of the designed ILs with 6 LU7 protease was performed to display interactions and binding energy. Results of molecular docking displayed that CH₃COO^- ion liquid has the highest binding energy (- 7.20 kcal/mol) and Ala7, and Lys 5 residues are involved in an interaction. DFT and molecular docking studies of cuspareine as alkaloid based on ionic liquids can be helpful to for more pharmaceutical and biological researches of cuspareine as an antiviral agent against COVID-19.

Diels-Alder Cross-Linked, Washing-Free Hydrogel Films with Ordered Wrinkling Patterns for Multicellular Spheroid Generation

Three-dimensional (3D) multicellular spheroids are a new generation in vitro cell model, however, their applications are severely limited by difficulties in their generation. Here patterned poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) hydrogel films were synthesized for their generation. Instead of polymerization of HEMA monomers in the presence of a cross-linker, here the PHEMA films were synthesized by cross-linking furan-functionalized linear PHEMA, PHEMA-furan, and maleimide-functionalized linear PHEMA, PHEMA-mal, via Diels-Alder (DA) reaction between furan and maleimide groups. A thermal treatment temperature of 75 °C was chosen for the cross-linking reaction. The occurrence of DA reaction was confirmed by IR spectra. Using this method, cross-linked PHEMA films with smooth surface were successfully synthesized in situ in the well of cell culture plates. The films were then patterned by simply adding water to swell them. Highly ordered, honeycomb-like wrinkling patterns were successfully obtained by adjusting the furan and maleimide contents in the precursor linear polymers. The patterned hydrogel films were used to generate multicellular spheroids. Guided by the patterns, 3D spheroids with narrow size distribution, tunable size, and high cell viability were successfully obtained. The patterned PHEMA films reported here exhibited a lot of advantages. The patterning method was quite simple and required no template or special equipment. They were synthesized in situ in commercial cell culture plates. Particularly, thanks to the clean nature of the DA reaction, no low molecular weight monomer, cross-linker, initiator, or catalyst, which were potentially cytotoxic, was involved in the film synthesis, and no byproduct was produced and left in the film. The resulting films presented a high biocompatibility, allowing the avoidance of the tedious washing step. The films synthesized here were expected to have high potential for massive production of well-defined multicellular spheroids.

DFT Calculations and Molecular Docking Studies on a Chromene Derivative

Chromenes and their derivatives have been considered as an important class of oxygen-containing heterocycles. There has been an increasing interest in the study of chromenes due to their biological activity. Herein, the structural, electronic, and vibrational properties of a chromene derivative, entitled 2‐amino‐5‐oxo‐4‐phenyl‐4,5‐dihydropyrano[3,2‐c]chromene‐3‐carbonitrile and abbreviated as Chrom-D, have been reported. The FT-IR, UV-vis, and 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR chemical shifts’ measurements were recorded. The molecular geometry and the vibrational frequencies are computed in the frame of density functional theory at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level of theory. The noncovalent interactions in the crystal lattice which are responsible to the 3D crystal structure of Chrom-D are investigated based on Hirshfeld surfaces and topological reduced density gradient (RDG) analysis. Molecular electrostatic potential surface, Mulliken charges, and Fukui functions are computed in order to find out the electrophilic and nucleophilic sites. The electronic properties of the title compound have been studied based on the TD-DFT calculations. Finally, Chrom-D has been evaluated as a multifunctional agent against Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

Crystal Engineering Construction of Caffeic Acid Derivatives with Potential Applications in Pharmaceuticals and Degradable Polymeric Materials

Natural products are precious feedstock in drug discovery and sustainable materials. This work using crystal engineering strategy, visible light, and solvent-free cycloaddition successfully constructed two caffeic acid derivatives, rel-(1R,2R,3S,4S)-2,4-bis(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)cyclobutane-1,3-dicarboxylate and rel-(1R,2R,3S,4S)-2,4-bis(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)cyclobutane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid. Because of the multiple stereocenters, it is challenging to prepare those compounds using traditional organic synthesis methods. The crystal engineering Hirshfeld surface analysis and 2D intermolecular interaction fingerprints were applied to synthetic route design. The light resources used in this work was visible LED or free, clean, and renewable sunlight. The evidence suggested that pure stereoisomer was obtained demonstrating the stereospecificity and efficiency of the topochemical cycloaddition reaction. The derivatives exhibited free radical scavenging and antioxidant biological activities, as well as the potential inhibitory activity of fatty acid binding proteins. One of the derivatives is the precursor of the natural product Shimobashiric acid C which paves the way for the total synthesis and further study of Shimobashiric acid C. In addition, the derivatives possess photodegradability at a specific wavelength, which is very attractive for "green" degradable polymeric materials.

Quantum chemical and spectroscopic investigations of 4-Hydroxy-7-methyl-1,8-naphthyridine-3-carboxylic acid

The FTIR (4000–400[Formula: see text]cm[Formula: see text]) and the FT-Raman spectra (4000–50[Formula: see text]cm[Formula: see text]) of 4-Hydroxy-7-methyl-1,8-naphthyridine-3-carboxylic acid are recorded and investigated. The spectra are interpreted using anharmonic frequency computations by VPT2, VSCF and PT2-VSCF methods within DFT/6-311G(d,p) framework. The root mean square (RMS) values indicate that VSCF computed frequencies are in close agreement with the observed frequencies. The combination and overtone bands are also identified in the FTIR spectrum. The intermolecular O-H[Formula: see text]O hydrogen bonding interactions are discussed in the dimer structure of the molecule. The magnitudes of the coupling between pair of modes are also computed. The electronic spectra in water and ethanol solvents are analyzed using TD-B3LYP/6-311[Formula: see text]G(d,p) level of theory. Molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) and HOMO-LUMO analysis are also performed.

Synthesis, spectroscopic (FT-IR, FT-Raman, UV and NMR) and computational studies on 3t-pentyl-2r,6c-diphenylpiperidin-4-one semicarbazone

The structural and spectroscopic studies of 3t-pentyl-2r,6c-diphenylpiperidin-4-one semicarbazone (PDPOSC) were made by adopting B3LYP/HF levels theory using 6-311++G(d,p) basis set. The FT-IR and Raman spectra were recorded in solid phase, the fundamental vibrations were assigned on the basis of the total energy distribution (TED) of the vibrational modes, calculated with scaled quantum mechanics (SQM) method and PQS program. DFT method indicates that B3LYP is superior to HF method for molecular vibrational analysis. UV-vis spectrum of the compound was recorded in different solvents in the region of 200-800 nm and the electronic properties such as excitation energies, oscillator strength, wavelengths, HOMO and LUMO energies were evaluated by time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) approach. The polarizability and first order hyperpolarizability of the title molecule were calculated and interpreted. The hyperconjugative interaction energy (E((2))) and electron densities of donor (i) and acceptor (j) bonds were calculated using NBO analysis. In addition, MEP and atomic charges of carbon, nitrogen and oxygen were calculated using B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level theory. Moreover, thermodynamic properties of the title compound were calculated by B3LYP/HF, levels using 6-311++G(d,p) basis set. The (1)H and (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) chemical shifts of the molecule were calculated by the gauge independent atomic orbital (GIAO) method and compared with experimental results.

A combined experimental and theoretical analysis on molecular structure and vibrational spectra of 2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid

The FT-IR and FT-Raman spectra of 2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,4-DHBA) in the solid phase have been recorded in the regions 4000-400 cm(-1) and 3700-100 cm(-1), respectively. The total energies of sixteen stable conformers for 2,4-DHBA have been calculated by density functional theory (DFT) using the B3LYP method with 6-311++G (d, p) basis set, and the C1 conformer with the lowest energy was obtained, the geometrical parameters between X-ray experiment diffraction and DFT calculation show good consistency. Furthermore, the vibrational frequencies of 2,4-DHBA were computed, and the detailed analysis of vibrational spectra was made on the basis of the potential energy distribution (PED) by combining experimental with theoretical data. In addition, frontier molecular orbitals, atomic charge distribution and molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) were also given.