One-pot synthesis of Claisen–Schmidt reaction through (E)-chalcone derivatives: Spectral studies in human serum albumin protein binding and molecular docking investigation

An efficient and environmentally benign one-pot multicomponent synthesis of E-chalcones was developed using a mild and reusable new boron nitride-sulphonic acid catalyst. The catalyst was prepared by activating the boron nitride surface with nitric acid, followed by a simple reaction with 3-mercaptopropyl trimethoxysilane. The catalyst was characterized and morphological properties were studied by Fourier transform infrared, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller theory, and Raman spectroscopy techniques. The solid acid catalyst was recycled five times in a Claisen–Schmidt reaction to synthesize new chalcone derivatives, and X-ray crystallography was used to elucidate the structure of (E)-1-(anthracen-9-yl)-3-(2-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)quinolin-3-yl)prop-2-en-1-one. A fluorescence quench titration method was used to assess its binding ability with human serum albumin (HSA), while molecular docking was also performed to get a more detailed insight into their interaction at the binding site of HSA.