Green Synthesis, Drug Design, In Vitro Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activities, DFT Analysis, and MD Analyses of Two N-Naphthoyl Benzoxazolone and Benzothiazolone Derivatives

Abstract

This study presents the synthesis of N-naphthoyl-2(3H)-benzoxazolone (4a) and N-naphthoyl-2(3H)-benzothiazolone (4b) using an eco-friendly method with montmorillonite K10 as a catalyst under ultrasound irradiation. The approach follows green chemistry principles and offers a sustainable route for drug development. The reactions produced high yields in a short time. Structural confirmation was achieved through FT-IR, NMR, and GC-MS. In vitro antibacterial tests showed that 4b, being more reactive, is more potent against Bacillus cereus and Salmonella typhimurium. Its smaller HOMO-LUMO gap energy and higher electron affinity enhance its interactions with bacterial cells. Additionally, 4b exhibited slightly better antioxidant activity than 4a in the DPPH assay. Molecular docking studies showed strong binding to nitric oxide synthase (1M8D) and dihydropteroate synthase (3TZF) enzymes. DFT analyses revealed valuable insights into their chemical reactivity, while SwissADME analysis highlighted favorable physicochemical properties. Further optimization, solubility improvements, and in vivo testing are needed to fully explore their therapeutic potential.