Synthesis, structural characterization, and potential antifungal activity of schiff base probes: A molecular docking study

Abstract

This study focuses on the design, synthesis, and evaluation of nine newSchiff bases 3(a-i) derived from a condensation reaction between 4-amino-1,2,4-triazol-3-one and diverse aldehyde derivatives. These compounds were synthesized through an efficient and straightforward protocol, yielding high-purity products. Comprehensive characterization was performed using ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and mass spectrometry to confirm the molecular structures. Additionally, single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis elucidated the detailed structures of three representative compounds (3b, 3f, and 3g). The antifungal potential of the synthesized Schiff bases was investigated via molecular docking studies against the fungal protein target (PDB ID: 2RKT). The docking results revealed binding energies ranging from -5.87 kcal/mol to -8.37 kcal/mol, highlighting significant variations in ligand-protein affinity. Notably, compounds 3g and 3j demonstrated the highest potential antifungal activity, attributed to their unique structural features, such as the presence of a sulfur atom and cyclohexane moiety, respectively. These findings suggest that the synthesized Schiff bases exhibit promising inhibitory potential and could serve as candidates for developing new antifungal therapies.