Benzo[d]imidazol-5-yl)-5-(substituted)-1,3,4-Oxadiazoles: Synthesis, Anticancer, Antimicrobial and In Silico Studies

Background: Cancer is a fatal disease for mankind; continuous research is still going on for the invention of potent anticancer drugs. In this view, 1, 3, 4-Oxadiazoles are privileged molecules which attracted medicinal chemists towards their anticancer properties. Methods: A new series of benzo[d]imidazol-5-yl)-5-(substituted)-1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives was synthesized in an efficient 'one-pot' nitro reductive cyclization using sodium dithionite as a cyclizing agent by a conventional method with good yield. All the structures of the synthesized molecules were characterized by IR, H-1 NMR, HRMS and Mass spectral analysis. Anticancer activity screening against A375 melanoma cancer cell line and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line along with antimicrobial activity were carried out using agar well diffusion method. Results: Compounds 8a and 8j of the series emerged as potent anticancer agents against A375 melanoma cancer cell line with IC50 47.06 mu M and 36.76 mu M, respectively. In silico studies also revealed that compounds 8a and 8j showed highest interaction with 2OH(4) protein of VEGFR-2 tyrosine kinase. Substantial antibacterial and antifungal activities against the tested microorganism were observed for compounds 8j and 8g. Conclusion: Potent anticancer property has been observed with 1,3,4-Oxadiazole linked tetrafluro substituted benzene ring 8j indicating that future research on these type of molecules can be continued to improve the anticancer activity.