Design, Synthesis, Characterization, Antiproliferative Activity, and In Silico Studies of Novel Alkyl Ether Derivatives Containing 1H‐1,2,4‐Triazole Ring

Abstract

AbstractIn this study, starting from 1H‐1,2,4‐triazole, a new series of aliphatic ether derivatives containing phenyl and 1H‐1,2,4‐triazole groups together were synthesized using reduction and Williamson ether synthesis mechanisms, respectively. The molecular structures of the synthesized compounds were characterized by fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR and 13C NMR), mass spectroscopy, and elemental analysis techniques. All synthesized compounds were screened against three different human cancer cell lines, including colon, lung, and liver cancer cells. Some of the compounds showed exceptionally high antiproliferative effects against all three cancer cell lines, with IC50 values much lower than the positive control drug bendamustine. In addition, molecular docking studies were performed to support the in vitro results and the interaction types and amino acids that play key roles in the binding of the compounds to enzymes were identified. Finally, the potential of these compounds to be drugs and their drug‐likeness properties were evaluated by absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion‐toxicity (ADMET) calculations and it was determined that the compounds could be drug candidates with the capacity to be effective and safe drugs for use in the treatment of different diseases.