New Azo-Azomethine Compounds: Comprehensive Evaluation of In Silico Biological Activities, ADMEt Profiling, and In Vitro Antioxidant Properties

Abstract

The discovery of novel azo-azomethine compounds and the exploration of their biological activities are critical for expanding the pool of potential drug candidates. In this study, four new fluorine-substituted azo-azomethines (4a–d), containing groups such as ─CF₃ and ─OCF₃, were successfully synthesized in high yields. Their in vitro antioxidant activities were evaluated using the CUPRAC method, and the results indicate that all compounds demonstrated higher TEAC values compared to the standard antioxidant Trolox. Notably, compound 4d exhibited the highest value of 2.22. A comparative analysis indicated that the antioxidant activity was influenced not only by the presence of fluorine-based substituents but also by the number of hydroxyl (─OH) groups in their structures. The ADMEt properties were also assessed, revealing that the synthesized compounds adhered to Lipinski's rule of five. Additionally, molecular docking studies were performed to examine various biological activities, targeting specific proteins involved in disease mechanisms. The findings revealed that; Among the compounds, the 4b-2XIR complex displayed the highest docking score of −11.0 kcal/mol, indicating strong binding affinity. These findings suggest that the synthesized azo-azomethine compounds have significant potential as drug candidates for the treatment of specified diseases.