Zr-Based Metal-Organic Framework/Reduced Graphene Oxide Composites for Catalytic Synthesis of 2,3-Dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-one Derivatives

The present paper reports the preparation of zirconium-based metal-organic framework (Zr-MOF) nanocomposites, which were fabricated on the surface of a reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheet via an in situ method. The Zr-MOF/rGO-nanocatalyst is successfully synthesized and tested for 2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-one derivative with isolated yields (89-97%) within 30 min. We have also synthesized a total of 14 aromatic derivatives of 2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-one compound and evaluated the possible binding of these compounds to the calfthymus DNA (CT-DNA). Furthermore, binding with CT-DNA is examined by the fluorescence spectroscopic technique and molecular docking studies. Fluorescence studies show G12, G13, and G14 compounds and give the best results amongst all synthesized 2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-one derivatives. Allosteric inhibition of CTDNA is performed and evaluated by molecular docking studies based on minimum binding energy, which corresponds to the fluorescence results. These comparative results proved G12, G13, and G14 compounds bind more effectively as compared to 3,8-diamino-5-ethyl-6-phenylphenanthridinium bromide. The characterization of the Zr-MOF/rGO-nanocatalyst is elucidated through Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, field emission scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy Raman spectrum, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The present nanocatalyst is readily recycled, reused five times, and found to be stable, with stability confirmed through FTIR spectroscopy and PXRD.