Knoevenagel/Tandem Knoevenagel and Michael Adducts of Cyclohexane-1,3-dione and Aryl Aldehydes: Synthesis, DFT Studies, Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitory Potential, and Molecular Modeling

Abstract

Xanthine oxidase (XO) plays a crucial role in the formation of uric acid by oxidative hydroxylation of purines. Herein, we report the design and synthesis of Knoevenagel/tandem Knoevenagel and Michael adducts of cyclohexane-1,3-dione and aryl aldehydes as nonpurine XO inhibitors derived from naturally occurring scaffolds. Density functional theory calculations highlighted the reaction pathways and reasoned the formation of tandem Knoevenagel and Michael adducts. The synthetics were assessed for their XO inhibitory potential, and among them, four compounds (1b, 1g, 2b, and 3a) were found to possess best IC50 values in the range of 3.66–4.98 μM. Interestingly, Knoevenagel adducts exhibited a competitive-type inhibition, whereas tandem Knoevenagel and Michael adducts produced a noncompetitive mode of inhibition. The compounds were capable of reducing the H2O2 levels induced by XO, both in normal and cancer cells with no significant cytotoxicity. Molecular modeling studies highlighted the role of interactions of compounds with residual amino acids of the XO active site and also corroborated with the observed structure–activity relationship.