New imino-methoxy derivatives: design, synthesis, characterization, antimicrobial activity, DNA interaction and molecular docking studies

La(FeCuMnMgTi)O3 High-Entropy Oxide Nanoparticles as Highly Efficient Catalysts for Solvent-Free Aerobic Oxidation of Benzyl Alcohol

In this work, a solid-state method for the synthesis of perovskite La(FeCuMnMgTi)O3 high-entropy oxide (HEO) nanoparticles is detailed. Additionally, the high performance of these nanoparticles as catalysts in the aerobic and solvent-free oxidation of benzyl alcohol is demonstrated. The structural features of HEO nanoparticles are studied by X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The La(FeCuMnMgTi)O3 nanoparticles demonstrate excellent benzyl alcohol conversion rates and selectivity for benzaldehyde, reaching 10.6% conversion and 52.8% selectivity after reaction for only 4 h and ≤75.6% conversion after 24 h. In addition, the as-prepared HEO catalyst displays robust stability in benzyl alcohol oxidation. Density functional theory calculations demonstrate that the adsorption energy of benzaldehyde on the HEO surface is lower than that of the benzoic acid. This, in turn, hinders the gradual conversion of benzaldehyde to benzoic acid on the surface of HEO and retains benzaldehyde as the main product.

Synthesis, crystallographic, DNA binding, and molecular docking/dynamic studies of a privileged chalcone-sulfonamide hybrid scaffold as a promising anticancer agent

In the present study, a drug-like molecular hybrid structure between chalcone and sulfonamide moieties was synthesized and characterized. The structural peculiarities of the synthesized hybrid were further verified by means of single crystal X-ray crystallography. Furthermore, its biological activity as an anticancer agent was evaluated. The synthesized model of chalcone-sulfonamide hybrid 3 was found to have potent anticancer properties against the studied cancer cell lines. Hence, the in vitro binding interaction of hybrid 3 with Calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) was studied at a simulated physiological pH to confirm its anticancer activity for the first time. This was investigated by applying different spectroscopic techniques, ionic strength measurements, viscosity measurements, thermodynamics, molecular dynamic simulation and molecular docking studies. The obtained results showed a clear binding interaction between hybrid 3 and CT-DNA with a moderate affinity via a minor groove binding mechanism. The binding constant (Kb) at 298 K calculated from the Benesi-Hildebrand equation was found to be 3.49 × 104 M-1. The entropy and enthalpy changes (ΔS0 and ΔH0) were 204.65 J mol-1 K-1 and 35.08 KJ mol-1, respectively, indicating that hydrophobic interactions constituted the major binding forces. The results obtained from molecular docking and dynamic simulation studies confirmed the minor groove binding interaction and the stability of the formed complex. This study can contribute to further understanding of the molecular mechanism of hybrid 3 as a potential antitumor agent and can also guide future clinical and pharmacological studies for rational drug design with enhanced or more selective activity and greater efficacy.[Figure: see text]Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Discovery of new 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles: in silico ADME profiling, molecular docking and biological evaluation studies

In this work, eight new 1,2,3-triazoles (6a-h) were synthesized from acetylenes' "click" reaction with p-substituted azide derivatives. The structures of the compounds were characterized using standard analytical and spectroscopic methods (elemental analysis, FT-IR, ¹H(¹³C)NMR). The anticancer, antioxidant, α-amylase, ADME, molecular docking studies of synthesized triazoles were investigated. According to α -amylase enzyme inhibition results, all compounds except 6c (IC₅₀: 2299 μg/mL) were found to have a higher IC₅₀ value than the standard drug acarbose (IC₅₀: 891 μg/mL). Compound 6g (IC₅₀: 68 μg/mL) exhibited 13 times higher activity than standard acarbose. All compounds, except 6e, have been shown to have greater DPPH radical scavenging capabilities than BHT and β-carotene standards. According to ABTS radical scavenging studies, all compounds showed higher scavenging activity than ascorbic acid and Trolox. To determine the anticancer activity of the synthesized compounds, they were screened against the Hela cell line, and the results were compared with standard cisplatin (IC₅₀: 16.30 μg/mL). Compound 6a (IC₅₀: 49.03 μg/mL) was determined to have moderate activity relative to cisplatin. The compounds were examined comprehensively for ADME characteristics and did not violate any drug-likeness rule. ADME data showed that all physicochemical and pharmacological parameters of the compounds remained within defined limits as specified in Lipinski's rules (RO5) and put forth a high bioavailability profile. The molecular docking findings show that all molecules have a high affinity by exhibiting polar and apolar contact with essential residues in the binding pocket of α-amylase.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

A Novel Donepezil–Caffeic Acid Hybrid: Synthesis, Biological Evaluation, and Molecular Docking Studies

A novel donepezil-caffeic acid (DP-CA) hybrid molecule was designed, synthesis, and investigated by molecular modeling. Its biological activity and protective effect were investigated by the IR spectroscopy, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. DP-CA was highly active against acetylcholine esterase and inhibited it at the micromolar concentrations. Fluorescence and UV-Vis spectroscopy studies showed strong binding of DP-CA to DNA. Moreover, DP-CA exhibited protective effects against H2O2-induced toxicity in U-118 MG glioblastoma cells. Finally, molecular docking showed a high affinity of DP-CA in all concentrations, and the active 4EY7 site exhibited essential residues with polar and apolar contacts. Taken together, these findings indicate that DP-CA could be a prospective multifunctional agent for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.