Oxacyanopyridine-Benzofuran Hybrids: Synthesis, in silico Toxicity Assessment, in vitro Antimicrobial Activity and Dual Target Docking Studies

This study emphasizes the synthesis and characterization of a novel series of oxa cyano pyridine heterocyclic molecular hybrids (OCP 1-6), integrating pyridine and benzofuran motifs. Meticulously designed from 5-chlorosalicylaldehyde in a multistep process, the synthesized compounds were structurally confirmed through IR spectroscopy, 1H NMR spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. Computational predictions highlighted diverse properties, including antitubercular and antibacterial attributes, bioactivity scores, toxicity profiles and potential molecular targets. In vitro assessments and Schrödinger docking simulations revealed binding affinities to enzymes viz. Mycobacterium tuberculosis enoyl-ACP reductase and Escherichia coli Topoisomerase IV. Compounds, particularly OCP 2, 3, 4 and 5, exhibited significant antitubercular and antibacterial activities in both in vitro assessments and docking simulations. This study underscores the substantial potential of the synthesized hybrids as promising candidates for further lead optimization, positioning them as valuable contributors to the development of pharmaceutical agents with heightened potency and enhanced safety profiles.