Synthesis and evaluation of the anti-TB activity of novel 7-(2-(4-substituted-phenyl)-4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)-4-methyl-2H-chromen-2-one derivatives and their DFT studies for NLO application

A series of novel 7-(2-(4-substituted-phenyl)-4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)-4-methyl-2H-chromen-2-one derivatives 5(a-g) have been synthesized and reported as anti-TB activity and non-linear optical applications. The activity results show that compounds 5b, 5c, 5d, 5f, and 5g exhibited excellent efficacy with a MIC value of 3.12 mu g/mL, one-fold greater than the reference standard streptomycin (6.26 mu g/mL). An in silico molecular docking study was performed against InhA protein and the results were consistent with the experimental results. Computational studies were performed using the DFT method and results reveal that the presence of greater electronegativity atoms increases the HOMO-LUMO energy gap. The NLO properties show that the presence of stronger electron-donating substituents increases the ICT, charge delocalization and beta 0 values. The NBO analysis shows significant interactions between LP (Lone pair), pi * and sigma* in compounds account for the high polarization and enhanced NLO activity.