Synthesis, characterization, and biological activity of novel 1,2,4-triazole moieties: Antileishmanial, antimicrobial effects, and molecular docking studies

Abstract

In this study; new 1,2,4-triazole derivatives, (E)-4-(((3-methyl-5-oxo-1,5-dihydro-4H-1,2,4-triazol-4-yl)imino)methyl)phenyl 4-methoxybenzoate (3a), (E)-4-(((3-benzyl-5-oxo-1,5-dihydro-4H-1,2,4-triazol-4-yl)imino)methyl)phenyl 4-methoxybenzoate (3b) and (E)-4-(((3-(4-fluorobenzyl)-5-oxo-1,5-dihydro-4H-1,2,4-triazol-4-yl)imino)methyl)phenyl 4‑methoxy benzoate methoxy benzoate (3c) were synthesized and characterized by FTIR and NMR (1H- and 13C-) spectroscopic methods. Structural and spectral parameters were calculated by DFT/B3LYP/6–311++G(d,p) methods. The newly synthesized compounds 3a–3c were evaluated for their antimicrobial activities against eight pathogenic microorganisms. Standard commercial drugs ampicillin and fluconazole were used as references for bacteria and yeast, respectively. The leishmanicidal activity of three different synthesized compounds against Leishmania infantum promastigotes was investigated using the microdilution method. In addition, the study attempted to investigate the interactions crucial for the antileishmanial activity of compound 3b by molecular docking analysis targeting trypanothione reductase (TRe).