New 1,2,3-Triazole Scaffold Schiff Bases as Potential Anti-COVID-19: Design, Synthesis, DFT-Molecular Docking, and Cytotoxicity Aspects

• Main Authors: Musa A. Said, Daoud J. O. Khan, Fawzia F. Al-blewi, Nadia S. Al-Kaff, Adeeb A. Ali, Nadjet Rezki, Mohamed Reda Aouad, Mohamed Hagar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-09-01
• Series: Vaccines
• Subjects: 1,2,3-triazole; Schiff base (SB); DFT-QSAR; COVID-19; molecular docking; cytotoxicity
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/9/9/1012

Schiff bases encompassing a 1,2,3-triazole motif were synthesized using an efficient multi-step synthesis. The formations of targeted Schiff base ligands were confirmed by different spectroscopic techniques (FT-IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and CHN analysis). The spectral data analysis revealed that the newly designed hydrazones exist as a mixture of <i>trans-E</i> and <i>cis</i>-<i>E</i> diastereomers. Densityfunctional theory calculations (DFT) for the Schiff bases showed that the <b><i>trans-trans</i></b> form has the lowest energy structure with maximum stability compared to the other possible geometrical isomers that could be present due to the orientation of the amidic NH–C=O group. The energy differences between the <b><i>trans</i></b>-<b><i>trans</i></b> on one side and <b><i>syn-syn</i></b> and <b><i>syn-trans</i></b> isomers on the other side were 9.26 and 5.56 kcal/mol, respectively. A quantitative structure-activity relationship investigation was also performed in terms of density functional theory. The binding affinities of the newly synthesized bases are, maybe, attributed to the presence of hydrogen bonds together with many hydrophobic interactions between the ligands and the active amino acid residue of the receptor. The superposition of the inhibitor <b>N3</b> and an example ligand into the binding pocket of 7BQY is also presented. Further interesting comparative docking analyses were performed. Quantitative structure-activity relationship calculations are presented, illustrating possible inhibitory activity. Further computer-aided cytotoxicity analysis by Drug2Way and PASS online software was carried out for Schiff base ligands against various cancer cell lines. Overall, the results of this study suggest that these Schiff base derivatives may be considered for further investigation as possible therapeutic agents for COVID-19.