Synthesis, Characterization, DFT, and In Silico Investigation of Two Newly Synthesized ß-Diketone Derivatives as Potent COX-2 Inhibitors.

Despite extensive genetic and biochemical characterization, the molecular genetic basis underlying the biosynthesis of ß-diketones remains largely unexplored. ß-Diketones and their complexes find broad applications as biologically active compounds. In this study, in silico molecular docking results revealed that two ß-diketone derivatives, namely 2-(2-(4-fluorophenyl)hydrazono)-5,5-dimethylcyclohexane-1,3-dione and 5,5-dimethyl-2-(2-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)hydrazono)cyclohexane-1,3-dione, exhibit anti-COX-2 activities. However, recent docking results indicated that the relative anti-COX-2 activity of these two studied ß-diketones was influenced by the employed docking programs. For improved design of COX-2 inhibitors from ß-diketones, we conducted molecular dynamics simulations, density functional theory (DFT) calculations, Hirshfeld surface analysis, energy framework, and ADMET studies. The goal was to understand the interaction mechanisms and evaluate the inhibitory characteristics. The results indicate that 5,5-dimethyl-2-(2-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)hydrazono)cyclohexane-1,3-dione shows greater anti-COX-2 activity compared to 2-(2-(4-fluorophenyl)hydrazono)-5,5-dimethylcyclohexane-1,3-dione.

Molecular dynamics of 6-methyl-2-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-4H-chromen-4-one and 6-methyl-2-(4-nitrophenyl)-2,3-dihydro-4H-chromen-4-one (flavanone) derivatives in a solution studied by NMR spectroscopy.

Molecular dynamics of benzoxazepin, oxime, pyrazole, and thiosemicarbazone derivatives of some flavanones have been investigated in a solution using NMR. The results confirm the formation of different O-H···O, O-H···N, N···H-N type intramolecular hydrogen bonds in the pyrazole and oxime molecules. The rotational barrier energy and energy of intramolecular hydrogen bonds have been determined.

Molecular dynamics of cis-1-(2-hydroxy-5- methylphenyl)ethanone oxime and N-(2-hydroxy-4-methylphenyl)acetamide in solution studied by NMR spectroscopy.

The formation of hydrogen bonds and molecular dynamics for the molecules cis-1-(2-hydroxy-5-methylphenyl)ethanone oxime (I) and N-(2-hydroxy-4-methylphenyl)acetamide (II) have been investigated in solution using NMR. The results confirm the formation of O-H...O, O-H...N and O...H-N type inter- and intramolecular hydrogen bonds. Spin-lattice relaxation times (T(1)), activation energy of molecular dynamics and energy of intramolecular hydrogen bonds have been determined.