Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of novel imidazole derivatives as analgesic and anti-inflammatory agents: experimental and molecular docking insights

Imidazole moieties exhibit a broad range of biological activities, including analgesic, anti-depressant, anticancer, anti-fungal, anti-tubercular, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, and antifungal properties. In this study, we explored the use of Schiff base for the synthesis of new imidazole derivatives as anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving agents. A series of eight novel imidazole analogues (2a-h) were prepared in three steps with excellent yields. All compounds were characterized using IR, NMR, and mass spectral data. Their analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated using hot plate and paw oedema methods. Compound 2 g (1-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)-2-(3-nitrophenyl)-4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazole) showed significant analgesic activity (89% at 100 mg/kg b.w.), while compounds 2a (2-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)-1-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazole) and 2b (2-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)-1-(2-chlorophenyl)-4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazole) exhibited good anti-inflammatory activity (100% at 100 mg/kg b.w.), comparable to diclofenac salt (100% at 50 mg/kg b.w.). Molecular docking studies were conducted using Schrödinger software version 2021-2, employing the OPLS4 force field for both receptor and ligand preparation. The results were visualized using molecular visualization software such as PyMOL. These studies revealed that compound 2g exhibited the highest binding affinity with the COX-2 receptor (-5.516 kcal/mol). Compound 2g formed three conventional hydrogen bonds with residues GLN-242 (bond length: 2.3 Å) and ARG-343 (bond lengths: 2.2 Å & 2.4 Å). This binding affinity was comparable to that of Diclofenac salt, which showed the highest binding affinity of -5.627 kcal/mol with the COX-2 receptor. Diclofenac salt formed two conventional hydrogen bonds with the residues ARG-344 (bond length: 2.0 Å) and TRP-140 (bond length: 1.7 Å). Later, molecular dynamic simulations confirmed the stable binding affinity of compound 2g with the protein. Furthermore, other compounds also demonstrated potential binding to the receptor-binding pocket region. The anti-inflammatory potential of the synthesized compounds was evaluated using the carrageenan-induced rat hind paw oedema model, while the analgesic potential was assessed using the hot plate method. These evaluations were conducted in comparison with Diclofenac sodium, serving as the standard compound. However, compound 2g stood out for its superior analgesic activity, as confirmed by in-vivo examination. These findings suggest that these novel imidazole derivatives have potential as anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents.

Facile one pot synthesis of 2-substituted benzimidazole derivatives under mild conditions by using engineered MgO@DFNS as heterogeneous catalyst

Benzimidazole derivatives are considered as important heterocyclic motifs that show a wide range of pharmaceutical applications. In view of their wide-ranging bioactivities, it is imperative to direct research on the sustainable catalytic synthesis of benzimidazole. Therefore, herein, we report a novel approach for the synthesis of benzimidazole and its derivatives with engineered MgO supported on dendritic fibrous nano silica (MgO@DFNS) as a sustainable heterogeneous catalyst. The catalyst MgO@DFNS was thoroughly characterized to understand its physio-chemical properties using XRD, FE-SEM, XPS, FT-IR, zeta potential, HR-TEM, TGA, TPR and TPD. The obtained results suggested that the catalyst MgO@DFNS prepared well and have the desired characteristics in it. After the successful characterisation of the prepared catalyst MgO@DFNS, it was applied in the synthesis of benzimidazole derivatives via condensation of o-phenylenediamine, and various aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes under ambient temperature. The catalyst produced a clean reaction profile with excellent yields in a shorter time under the umbrella of green chemistry. The effect of reaction parameters such as the effect of time, catalyst dosage, loading of MgO, effect of solvents and effect of different homo and heterogeneous catalyst were also tested. Furthermore, to understand the scope of the catalyst different substituted diamines and substituted aldehydes were reacted and obtained desired products in good to efficient yield. In addition, a recyclability study was also conducted and it was observed that the catalyst could be recycled for up to six cycles without noticeable changes in the morphology and activity. We believe that the present methodology gave several advantages such as an eco-friendly method, easy work-up, good selectivity, high yields and quick recovery of catalyst. MgO@DFNS is highly stable for several cycles without significant loss of its activity, which possibly demonstrates its applicability at the industrial scale.

Extending the Hierarchy of Heterogeneous Catalysis to Substituted Derivatives of Benzimidazole Synthesis: Transition Metals Decorated CNTs

A simple and practical procedure has been adopted for one pot synthesis of benzimidazole derivatives under mild reaction conditions, starting from cinnamyl alcohol (COH) with bimetallic nanoparticles (BNPs) and supported bimetallic nanoparticles of Cu, Ti, Zn, Mn, Ag, and Co. All the catalysts were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), X-Ray Diffractometry (XRD), Brunauer Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area, and pore size analyzer. The products were identified/quantified with 1HNMR, FT-IR, and MS. 98% yield of substituted derivatives of benzimidazole was obtained with Cu–Ti supported on FMWCNTs in ethanol with excellent selectivity. Quantum chemical calculations of molecular reactivity of substituted cinnamaldehyde (CHO) and ortho phenylenediamine (OPD) have good consistency with experimental results. The returns of this work were the use of readily available catalysts, high yield, short reaction time, and simplicity of the process.

Heterogeneous Catalytic Synthesis of 2-Methylbenzimidazole from 2-Nitroaniline and Ethanol Over Mg Modified Cu-Pd/γ-Al2O3

The direct synthesis of benzimidazoles from 2-nitroaniline and ethanol over Cu-Pd/γ-Al2O3 catalysts has the advantages of requiring easily available starting materials, having high efficiency, and a simple procedure. The modification by Mg of the Cu-Pd/γ-Al2O3 catalyst could improve the catalytic activity significantly. The addition of Mg to the Cu-Pd/γ-Al2O3 catalyst could maintain and promote the formation of CuPd alloy active sites. Meanwhile, the basicity of the support was enhanced appropriately by Mg, which generated more basic sites (Al-Oδ−) to accelerate the dehydrogenation of alcohol and increased the rate of the whole coupled reaction. The 2-nitroaniline was completely converted over Cu-Pd/(Mg)γ-Al2O3 after reacting for six hours, and the yield of 2-methylbenzimidazole was 98.8%. The results of this work provide a simple method to develop a more efficient catalyst for the “alcohol-dehydrogenation, hydrogen transfer and hydrogenation” coupled reaction system.

Palladium(II)-catalyzed sequential C-H arylation/aerobic oxidative C-H amination: one-pot synthesis of benzimidazole-fused phenanthridines from 2-arylbenzimidazoles and aryl halides

Starting from 2-arylbenzimidazoles and aryl halides, an efficient palladium-based catalytic method for the synthesis of benzimidazole-fused phenanthridines has been developed. This reaction sequence comprises intermolecular C-H arylation and intramolecular aerobic oxidative C-H amination, involving the rupture of two C-H bonds, one C-X bond, and one N-H bond in one pot. The Pd(II)-Pd(IV)-Pd(II) and Pd(II)-Pd(0)-Pd(II) catalytic cycles work together under the reported conditions to generate phenanthridines with diverse substituents.

Microwave-assisted synthesis of novel 2,3-disubstituted imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines via one-pot three component reactions

An expeditious one-pot, metal-free, three-component reaction of arylglyoxals, cyclic 1,3-dicarbonyls and 2-aminopyridines in the presence of molecular iodine under microwave irradiation is reported.

“On-water” synthesis of novel trisubstituted 1,3-thiazolesviamicrowave-assisted catalyst-free domino reactions

A clean, efficient and catalyst-free multicomponent domino reaction of arylglyoxals, cyclic 1,3-dicarbonyls and thioamides in aqueous media under microwave conditions is reported.

Boric Acid Catalyzed Convenient Synthesis of Benzimidazoles in Aqueous Media

Synthesis of benzimidazoles has been developed by theo-phenylenediamine with aldehydes using boric acid an efficient catalyst under mild reaction conditions in aqueous media. The product is applicable to aryl and heteroaryl aldehydes. This reaction led to the formation of benzimidazoles new derivatives in good yields. The FT-IR,19F-NMR,1H-NMR,13C-NMR spectra and elemental analysis confirm the structure of compounds.

Vibrational spectra and DFT study of anticancer active molecule 2-(4-Bromophenyl)-1H-benzimidazole by normal coordinate analysis

FT-IR and FT-Raman spectra of the 2-(4-Bromophenyl)-1H-benzimidzole were recorded and analyzed in the solid phase. The optimized molecular geometry, the vibrational wavenumbers, the infrared intensities and the Raman scattering activities were calculated by using Hartree-Fock and density functional method (B3LYP) with 6-31G(d,p) basis set. The potential surface scan study was carried out for the conformation of theoretical structure. Detailed interpretation of the vibrational spectra had been carried out with the aid of the normal coordinate analysis. Chemical interpretation of hyperconjugative interaction was done by natural bond orbital analysis.

In-vivo analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of newly synthesized benzimidazole derivatives

A series of 2-methylaminobenzimidazole derivatives (1-11) were synthesized by the reaction of 2-(chloromethyl)-1H-benzimidazole derivatives with primary aromatic amines. All these compounds were characterized by IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, GC-MS and elemental analysis. The newly synthesized compounds were screened for analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities on acetic acid induced writhing in mice and carrageenan induced paw oedema in rats. Compounds (7) and (2) showed a potent analgesic (89% at 100 mg/kg b.w) and anti-inflammatory (100% at 100 mg/kg b.w) activities compared with standard drug Nimesulide (100% at 50 mg/kg b.w) respectively. The other compounds showed good analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities.

Vibrational spectrum and assignments of 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazole by ab initio Hartree-Fock and density functional methods

The room temperature attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectrum of the 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazole has been recorded with diamond/ZnSe prism. The conformational behaviour, structural stability of optimized geometry, frequency and intensity of the vibrational bands of the title compound were investigated by utilizing ab initio calculations with 6-311G** basis set at HF, B3LYP, BLYP, B3PW91 and mPW1PW91 levels. The harmonic vibrational frequencies were calculated and scaled values have been compared with experimental IR spectrum. The observed and the calculated frequencies are found to be in good agreement. The theoretical vibrational spectra of the title compound were interpreted by means of potential energy distributions using VEDA 4 program. Furthermore, the optimal uniform scaling factors calculated for the title compound are 0.9120, 0.9596, 0.9660, 0.9699, and 0.9993 for HF, mPW1PW91, B3PW91, B3LYP and BLYP methods, respectively.

A theoretical study on 1-(thiophen-2-yl-methyl)-2-(thiophen-2-yl)-1H-benzimidazole

The molecular geometry and vibrational frequencies of 1-(thiophen-2-yl-methyl)-2-(thiophen-2-yl)-1H-benzimidazole (C(16)H(12)N(2)S(2)) in the ground state has been calculated using the Hartree-Fock (HF) and density functional method (B3LYP) with 6-31G(d) basis set. The optimized geometric bond lengths and bond angles obtained by using HF and DFT (B3LYP) show the best agreement with the experimental data. Comparison of the observed fundamental vibrational frequencies of 1-(thiophen-2-yl-methyl)-2-(thiophen-2-yl)-1H-benzimidazole (C(16)H(12)N(2)S(2)) and calculated results by density functional B3LYP and Hartree-Fock methods indicate that B3LYP is superior to the scaled Hartree-Fock approach for molecular vibrational problems.