Zinc acetate-catalyzed, green and efficient synthesis of xanthene derivatives under ultrasound irradiation: X-ray crystallographic analysis and <i>in silico</i> study

Abstract

A simple, one-pot method using zinc acetate and ultrasound irradiation has been developed to synthesize xanthene derivatives from cyclic diketones and aromatic aldehydes, yielding good to excellent results. This method offers advantages like mild conditions, high atom economy, easy isolation, and a recyclable catalyst. All xanthene derivatives, including two new molecules, were confirmed using standard spectroscopic methods, with X-ray crystallographic data provided for compound 3r. The synthesized molecules were shown to inhibit the VEGFR-2 enzyme, confirmed by molecular docking studies. A 200 ns molecular dynamics simulation validated these findings, showing significant stability for the 3e-VEGFR-2 complex after 1 ns and the 3p-VEGFR-2 complex for 8 ns. DFT calculations were used to analyze electronic and geometric properties, including HOMO and LUMO bandgap energies and molecular electrostatic potential surfaces. Additionally, the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) properties of the synthesis compounds were assessed.