5-phenyl-1-benzofuran-2-yl derivatives: synthesis, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activity

Previously unknown biphenyl containing 5-phenyl-1-benzofuran-2-yl derivatives; methanones (2a–i), tertiary alcohols (3a–l), and carbinols (4a–f) were synthesized and evaluated for their antimicrobial and antioxidant activities to study the effect of functionalization at the carbonyl carbon and substitution at biphenyl ring on these activities. The introduction of hydroxyl group at carbonyl carbon enhanced the antioxidant property (3a, 3g, 3h, 4a, and 4b), while antimicrobial activity decreased; the carbinol and tertiary alcohols corresponding to methanone 2a and 2b showed no antimicrobial activity. Biphenyl methanones 1, 2a, 2f, and 2g exhibited antimicrobial activity with minimal inhibitory concentration ranging between 0.001 and 0.500 mg/mL, tertiary alcohols 3a, 3g, and 3h and carbinols 4a and 4b exhibited the promising antioxidant property. The mode of action of these active compounds was carried out by docking of receptor GlcN6P synthase with newly synthesized candidate ligands 1, 2a, 2e, 2f, 2g, 2h, 3a, 3g, 3h, 4c, and 4d.