Synthesis, characterization and molecular docking studies of new indol(1H-3-yl)pyrimidine derivatives: Insights into their role in DNA interaction

Abstract

This study reports the synthesis of new indol(1H-3-yl) pyrimidine derivatives 4(a-e) using various substituted indole-3-carbaldehydes, urea and malononitrile in the presence of ammonium chloride. The resulting compounds were characterized using analytical and spectroscopic methods. The molecular docking study exhibits that among the synthesized compounds, 4(c-e) have great binding ability toward B-DNA. The binding efficiencies of compounds 4(c-e) with CT-DNA were evaluated via UV-visible absorption spectral and viscosity studies. The findings establish that the compounds firmly bind through an intercalative mode to CT-DNA and provide a unique pattern of DNA binding. The photo-induced cleavage indicates that the compounds have UV-visible photo nuclease properties toward plasmid DNA as revealed by agarose gel electrophoresis approach.

Keywords:

• Pyrimidines
• indole
• molecular docking
• DNA binding
• DNA cleavage

Disclosure statement

The authors declare the absence of conflict of interest.