Design, synthesis and docking studies of some novel (R)-2-(4′-chlorophenyl)-3-(4′-nitrophenyl)-1,2,3,5-tetrahydrobenzo[4,5] imidazo [1,2-c]pyrimidin-4-ol derivatives as antitubercular agents

• Novel imidazo [1,2-c]pyrimidin-4-ol derivatives are designed.
• Molecular docking study was carried out.
• Synthetic methodologies leading to targeted molecules have been reported.
• X-ray crystallographic study (ORTEP) of compound 7g was carried out.
• Compounds are subjected to screening for antitubercular activity and cytotoxicity assay.

Filamenting temperature-sensitive mutant (FtsZ) is a novel target for the treatment of tuberculosis. A series of (R)-2-(4′-chlorophenyl)-3-(4′-nitrophenyl)-1,2,3,5-tetrahydrobenzo[4,5] imidazo[1,2-c]pyrimidin-4-ol derivatives were designed and docked on the FtsZ protein crystal structure (PDB Id: 1RLU, resolution 2.08 Å). Compound 7t showed the highest docking score and H-bond interaction with Arg140 and Gly19. Our strategy for synthesis of (R)-2-(4′-chlorophenyl)-3-(4′-nitrophenyl)-1,2,3,5-tetrahydrobenzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-c]pyrimidin-4-ol derivatives from o-phenylenediamine as illustrated in scheme. All the synthesized compounds were characterized by FTIR, Mass spectra, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, elemental analysis and purity was confirmed by HPLC and LCMS. Compound 7g was also confirmed by single crystal X-ray analysis. The in silico results are also validated with in vitro antitubercular activity of compound 7t. Compound 7b exhibited in vitro antitubercular activity 3.13 μg/mL and 4.7 μg/mL whereas compound 7t exhibited in vitro antitubercular activity 6.25 μg/mL and 9.4 μg/mL using GAST/Fe medium after week 1 and week 2 respectively against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv. Medium 7H9/ADC/Tween was found to be very less effective for in vitro antitubercular activity of all the benzimidazole derivatives. Assays for in vitro cytotoxicity against VERO cells of all the synthesized compounds was found to be very less cytotoxic.

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