Synthesis, structural, spectral, Anticancer activity, and density functional theory investigations of 2- [hydrazinylidene(phenyl)methyl]pyridine

Abstract

The condensation reaction of equimolar amounts of 2-benzoylpyridine and hydrazine hydrate to produce hydrazone, 2- [hydrazinylidene(phenyl)methyl]pyridine (HPMP) with a mass spectral peak at m/z = 197. The compound showed 15N NMR peaks at 330.79, 306.64, and 110.45 ppm due to CN (azomethine), pyridine nitrogen and —NH2 nitrogen atoms. The crystal structure data, IR, and Raman studies were correlated with DFT/B3LYP/6–311++G(d,p) calculations. The compound exhibited strong fluorescence at 592 and 481 nm when excited at 290 and 210 nm, respectively. NBO Fock matrix analyses indicated the existence of different π and π* energy levels, and the molecule can undergo internal charge transfer and vibrational relaxation. The IC-50 value for HPMP was found to be 62.5 µg/ml against the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line as shown by the MTT assay. The IC-50 value for HPMP was higher than the standard doxorubicin but expected to have fewer side effects. Fluorescence microscopy analyses showed significant cell mortality compared to that of the control. The NH2 group in HPMP has been shown to interact with Asp73 (A) (2.89 Å) and ASM46 (A) (2.90 Å) through H-bonding with the DNA gyrase protein (Protein ID: 1KZN). The other selected protein residues were made hydrophobic by pyridine and phenyl rings to inactivate DNA gyrase protein. Therefore, HPMP can be used as an anticancer drug and for optical LED applications.