Synthesis, Characterization and Molecular Docking of New Nucleosides and Schiff Bases Derived from Ampyrone as Antiviral Agents to Contain the COVID-19 Virus

Abstract

A new series of nucleoside derivatives was prepared from the reaction of 4-aminoantipyrene with different sugar moieties. In addition, ampyrone’s reaction with different aromatic aldehydes gave the corresponding Schiff base derivatives, which were also synthesized. Both molecular docking and in vitro antiviral activities at different concentrations of different synthesized compounds against SARS-CoV-2 were screened. All newly synthesized compounds were characterized on the basis of IR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectral data and physical data. The compounds were screened for potential cytotoxic activities. The molecular docking analysis showed that compounds 6b, 6e, 6c, 6f and 6d exhibited relatively higher binding energies (−8.1, −8.1, −8.3, −8.4 and −8.7 kcal/mol, respectively) compared to all the other compounds. However, the different compounds did not show any promising in vitro antiviral activities against SARS-CoV-2.

Keywords:

• Amperone
• antiviral agents
• COVID-19
• molecular docking
• nucleosides
• Schiff bases

Acknowledgments

We greatly appreciate the contributions of all the authors for the completion of this study and the Deanship of Scientific Research Affairs, Taif University, Saudi Arabia, for financial support. This study was financially supported by the Taif University project no. 1-441-33.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The authors have disclosed the receipt of the following financial support for research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.