An Extensive Study of Coumarin Synthesis via Knoevenagel Condensation in Choline Chloride Based Deep Eutectic Solvents

The Electronic Effects of 3-Methoxycarbonylcoumarin Substituents on Spectral, Antioxidant, and Protein Binding Properties

Coumarin derivatives are a class of compounds with pronounced biological activities that depend primarily on the present substituents. Four 3-methoxycarbonylcoumarin derivatives with substituents of different electron-donating/electron-withdrawing abilities (Br, NO₂, OH, and OMe) were investigated structurally by NMR, IR, and UV-VIS spectroscopies and density functional theory methods. The appropriate level of theory (B3LYP-D3BJ/6-311++G(d,p) was selected after comparing similar compounds' experimental and theoretical structural parameters. The natural bond orbital and quantum theory of atoms in molecules were employed to investigate the intramolecular interactions governing stability. The electronic effects of substituents mostly affected the aromatic ring that the substituents are directly attached to. The antioxidant properties were investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy towards HO^•, and the percentages of reduction were between 13% (6-Br) and 23% (6-OMe). The protein binding properties towards transport proteins were assessed by spectrofluorimetry, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics (MD). The experimentally determined binding energies were well reproduced by molecular docking, showing that the spontaneity of ibuprofen binding was comparable to the investigated compounds. The flexibility of HSA in MD simulations depended on the substituents. These results proved the importance of electronic effects for the protein binding affinities and antioxidant properties of coumarin derivatives.

Study on effective synthesis of 7-hydroxy-4-substituted coumarins

Many coumarin derivatives have good biological activity and application value in fluorescent probes. Therefore, synthetic routes to coumarin derivatives have also attracted the attention of many research groups. In this work, based on the Pechmann coumarin synthesis method, the influence of various Lewis acids on the reaction was discussed, and the optimal synthesis conditions of 7-hydroxy-4-substituted coumarins were explored. Based on the experimental results, a possible mechanism was proposed, which provides a reference for future industrialized production of coumarins.

Greener Syntheses of Coumarin Derivatives Using Magnetic Nanocatalysts: Recent Advances

Coumarins (2H-1-benzopyran-2-ones) are an important group of biological heterocyclic compounds present in various parts of many plant species, encompassing an array of biological and pharmaceutical activities. In view of the importance of coumarins in heterocyclic chemistry and biological sciences and recent advances in the design of magnetic nanocatalysts, we present herein recent developments pertaining to their synthesis exclusively using magnetic nanoparticles, which can be retrieved easily and thus conform to the tenets of greener synthesis. The preparation of various types of coumarins such as Pechmann-based coumarins, bis coumarins, pyranocoumarins, and coumarin derivatives bearing amine moiety, linked to nicotinonitriles, N-coumarin-2-furanone, and pyrrole-linked chromene derivatives using nanocatalysts with a Fe₃O₄ core are described. This review covers the synthetic developments in the recent years 2012-2021 and focuses entirely on the synthesis of coumarins in the presence of magnetic nanocatalysts using greener approaches such as solvent-free conditions or deploying alternative activation methods, namely microwave or ultrasound irradiation.

Biological Activities Related to Plant Protection and Environmental Effects of Coumarin Derivatives: QSAR and Molecular Docking Studies

The aim was to study the inhibitory effects of coumarin derivatives on the plant pathogenic fungi, as well as beneficial bacteria and nematodes. The antifungal assay was performed on four cultures of phytopathogenic fungi by measuring the radial growth of the fungal colonies. Antibacterial activity was determined by the broth microdilution method performed on two beneficial soil organisms. Nematicidal activity was tested on two entomopathogenic nematodes. The quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) model was generated by genetic algorithm, and toxicity was estimated by T.E.S.T. software. The mode of inhibition of enzymes related to the antifungal activity is elucidated by molecular docking. Coumarin derivatives were most effective against Macrophomina phaseolina and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, but were not harmful against beneficial nematodes and bacteria. A predictive QSAR model was obtained for the activity against M. phaseolina (R²_tr = 0.78; R²_ext = 0.67; Q²_loo = 0.67). A QSAR study showed that multiple electron-withdrawal groups, especially at position C-3, enhanced activities against M. phaseolina, while the hydrophobic benzoyl group at the pyrone ring, and –Br, –OH, –OCH₃, at the benzene ring, may increase inhibition of S. sclerotiourum. Tested compounds possibly act inhibitory against plant wall-degrading enzymes, proteinase K. Coumarin derivatives are the potentially active ingredient of environmentally friendly plant-protection products.

Coumarin Derivatives Act as Novel Inhibitors of Human Dipeptidyl Peptidase III: Combined In Vitro and In Silico Study

Dipeptidyl peptidase III (DPP III), a zinc-dependent exopeptidase, is a member of the metalloproteinase family M49 with distribution detected in almost all forms of life. Although the physiological role of human DPP III (hDPP III) is not yet fully elucidated, its involvement in pathophysiological processes such as mammalian pain modulation, blood pressure regulation, and cancer processes, underscores the need to find new hDPP III inhibitors. In this research, five series of structurally different coumarin derivatives were studied to provide a relationship between their inhibitory profile toward hDPP III combining an in vitro assay with an in silico molecular modeling study. The experimental results showed that 26 of the 40 tested compounds exhibited hDPP III inhibitory activity at a concentration of 10 µM. Compound 12 (3-benzoyl-7-hydroxy-2H-chromen-2-one) proved to be the most potent inhibitor with IC₅₀ value of 1.10 μM. QSAR modeling indicates that the presence of larger substituents with double and triple bonds and aromatic hydroxyl groups on coumarin derivatives increases their inhibitory activity. Docking predicts that 12 binds to the region of inter-domain cleft of hDPP III while binding mode analysis obtained by MD simulations revealed the importance of 7-OH group on the coumarin core as well as enzyme residues Ile315, Ser317, Glu329, Phe381, Pro387, and Ile390 for the mechanism of the binding pattern and compound 12 stabilization. The present investigation, for the first time, provides an insight into the inhibitory effect of coumarin derivatives on this human metalloproteinase.

Choline Chloride/Glycerol Promoted Synthesis of 3,3-Disubstituted Indol-2-ones

Objective:

3,3-Disubstituted indol-2-one derivatives have wider applications in pharmaceuticals and they are key intermediates for the synthesis of many kinds of drug candidates. The development of an efficient and practical method to prepare this class of compound is highly desirable from both environmental and economical points of views.

Methods:

In order to establish an effective synthetic method for preparing 3,3-disubstituted indol-2-one derivatives, the bis-condensation reaction of isatin and 1H-indene-1,3(2H)-dione was selected as a model reaction. A variety of natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) were prepared and used for this reaction. The generality and limitation of the established method were also investigated.

Results:

It was found that model reaction can be carried out in natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) based on choline chloride (ChCl) at 80 oC under microwave irradiation. This protocol with a broad substrate applicability afforded various 2,2'-(2-oxoindoline-3,3-diyl)bis(1H-indene-1,3(2H)-dione) derivatives in high yields.

Conclusion:

simple and efficient procedure has been developed for synthesis of 2,2'-(2-oxoindoline-3,3-diyl)bis(1H-indene-1,3(2H)-dione), spiro[indoline-3,7'-pyrano[5,6-c:5,6-c']dichromene]-2,6',8'-trione, and spiro[indoline-3,9'-xan-thene] trione via bis-condensation between isatin with 1,3-indandione, 4-hydroxycoumarin or 1,3-cyclohexanedione in nat-ural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) based on choline chloride (ChCl) and glycerol (Gl) under microwave irradiation. The salient features of this protocol are avoidance of any additive/catalyst and toxic organic solvent, clean reaction profiles, non-chromatographic purification procedure, and high to excellent yield. Furthermore, the use of NADES as green reaction medium reduces burden on environment and makes the present method environmentally sustainable.

Lipoxygenase Inhibition Activity of Coumarin Derivatives-QSAR and Molecular Docking Study

Lipoxygenases (LOXs) are a family of enzymes found in plants, mammals, and microorganisms. In animals and plants, the enzyme has the capability for the peroxidation of unsaturated fatty acids. Although LOXs participate in the plant defense system, the enzyme’s metabolites can have numerous negative effects on human health. Therefore, many types of research are searching for compounds that can inhibit LOXs. The best quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) model was obtained using a Genetic Algorithm (GA). Molecular docking was performed with iGEMDOCK. The inhibition of lipoxygenase was in the range of 7.1 to 96.6%, and the inhibition of lipid peroxidation was 7.0–91.0%. Among the synthesized compounds, the strongest inhibitor of soybean LOX-3 (96.6%) was found to be 3-benzoyl-7-(benzyloxy)-2H-chromen-2-one. A lipid peroxidation inhibition of 91.0% was achieved with ethyl 7-methoxy-2-oxo-2H-chromene-3-carboxylate. The docking scores for the soybean LOX-3 and human 5-LOX also indicated that this compound has the best affinity for these LOX enzymes. The best multiple linear QSAR model contains the atom-centered fragment descriptors C-06, RDF035p, and HATS8p. QSAR and molecular docking studies elucidated the structural features important for the enhanced inhibitory activity of the most active compounds, such as the presence of the benzoyl ring at the 3-position of coumarin’s core. Compounds with benzoyl substituents are promising candidates as potent lipoxygenase inhibitors.