Introduction

Drug designing is a technique of searching and developing new molecules that exert specific action on a human kind [1]. The figure of multidrug resistant microbial infections is growing day by day which indicated that it is crucial to develop new class of antimicrobial drugs [2]. Tumor is a severe health issue and 2nd leading/most reason for mortality in the globe. It is caused by deregulation of the cell cycle which results in failure of cellular differentiation and unrestrained cellular growth [3, 4]. So, it is necessary to develop and synthesize new bioactive molecules whose chemical structure and mode of action are noticeably differing from the available agents [5].

Discovery of drug is a slow, lengthy costly and interdisciplinary procedure but the new developments have transformed the methods by which researchers generate new drug molecules e.g. CADD tool overcomes the cost of drug design up to 50% [1]. Molecular docking technique is used to understand the (i) drug-receptor interaction (ii) binding affinity (iii) orientation and approach of drug molecules to the target site. The main objectives of docking study are precise structural modeling, correct prediction of activity. It presents the most promising vision of drug–receptor interaction and generates a new rational approach to drug design [6]. RMSD is the average distance between the atoms of superimposed structures. This value is widely used parameter to rank the performance of docking methods. If the docked ligand shows < 2.0 Å RMSD value with the crystallographic ligand, it is considered as a successful docking. To calculate the relative free energy, an accurate MM-GBSA binding affinity computation can also be applied [7, 8].

Cyclin-dependent kinases play a significant role in the control of cell cycle. These holoenzymes have both catalytic (CDK) and regulatory (cyclin) subunits but present as higher order complexes that include additional proteins and are arbitrated by two classes of enzymes i.e. cyclin D- and E. The D-type cyclins (D1, D2 and D3) bind with two different catalytic sites (CDK4 and CDK6) to yield six possible holoenzymes that articulated in tissue-specific models [9].

CDKs are a class of enzymes that controls the cell cycle and are novel targets for prospective anticancer drugs [10]. A series of pyrimidines bearing 2-arylamino substituents was developed and screened for CDK1 and CDK2 inhibitory effect by Sayle et al. [11]. The SAR of 4-cyclohexylmethoxy-pyrimidines (inhibitors of CDK2) was explored [12]. The progression, transcription and other related functions of cell cycle are regulated by CDK8 that is a heterodimeric kinase protein. The carboxyterminal domain of RNA polymerase II is also phosphorylated by CDK-8. Hence, the inhibition of CDK-8 protein may be essential for regulating tumor [6, 13].

Pyrimidine is a heterocyclic nucleus containing nitrogen atom at 1 and 3 positions. It is the structural unit of DNA and RNA is an important molecule also plays a very significant role in the field of medicinal chemistry [14]. Pyrimidine is reported to have antimicrobial [15], anticancer [16, 17], anti-inflammatory [18], antioxidant [19], analgesic [20] and antiviral [21] and antimalarial [22] potentials. Number of marketed drugs contains pyrimidine ring such as proquazone (anti-inflammatory); idoxuridine (antiviral); trimethoprim (antibacterial); zidovudine (anti-HIV); pyrimethamine (antimalarial) and capecitabine (antiproliferative).

In the present study we have planned to synthesize heterocyclic pyrimidine analogues and evaluate their antimicrobial, antiproliferative and docking study.

Results and discussion

Chemistry

Synthesis of heterocyclic pyrimidine analogues followed the general procedure discussed in synthetic Scheme 1. The reaction of p-substituted acetophenone with substituted benzaldehyde resulted in the formation of Int- I. The resulted compound was treated with guanidine nitrate to yield pyrimidine ring (Int-II), which on reaction with corresponding substituted benzaldehyde in presence of glacial acetic acid yielded the final derivatives (Ax1–Ax19). The molecular scaffolds of the developed pyrimidine derivatives (Ax1–Ax19) were established by physicochemical properties (Table 1) and NMR, FTIR, MS spectra and elemental analysis (Table 2). The IR spectrum of synthesized compound showed bands around 2934–3093 cm−1 and 1462–1595 cm−1 which indicate the C–H and C=C group in aromatic nucleus, respectively. The Ar–Cl group in compounds Ax5, Ax12, Ax16 were displayed stretches in the scale of 712–757 cm−1. The IR str. vibrations at 512–628 cm−1 in the spectral data of compounds displayed the Ar–Br group at p-position of the aromatic nucleus. The existence of Ar-OCH3 in synthesized analogues is established by absorption band around 1177–1276 cm−1. The appearance of IR str. 1550–1685 cm−1 in the compounds (Ax1–Ax19) specified the existence of N=CH group. The Ar-NO2 group in compounds Ax1, Ax6 and Ax15–Ax19 were displayed by symmetric Ar-NO2 str. in the scale of 1345–1462 cm−1. The IR stretching 1270–1363 cm−1 of synthesized compounds specified the existence of C–N group. The impression of IR absorption band at 3231–3491 cm−1 in the spectral data of the molecules displayed the presence of Ar-OH group on the aromatic nucleus. The signals between 6.39 and 8.38 δ in NMR spectra are indicative of aromatic proton. The prepared derivatives exhibited singlet at 7.46–8.39 δ due to the presence of N=CH group in pyrimidine nucleus. Molecules displayed singlet at 7.56–7.91 δ due to the presence of –CH group in pyrimidine nucleus. The singlet at 3.71–3.87 δ indicated the presence Ar-OCH3. Compound Ax8 exhibited singlet at 2.67 δ due to presence of –N(CH3)2 at the p-position. The compound Ax14 exhibited quadrate at 3.38 δ and triplet at 1.14 δ due to presence of –N(C2H5)2 group at p-position. The 13C-NMR spectra of aromatic ring exhibited in the range of 102.0, 112.3, 117.3, 123.6, 124.4, 126.6, 126.3, 128.1, 129.3, 130.2, 133.2, 147.5, 153.2; pyrimidine nucleus exhibited around 111.5, 164.3, 168.2; N=CH group exhibited around 161.0; OCH3 group showed around 54.1, 60.8, 56.1. The elemental analysis (CHN) was found within ± 0.4% of the theoretical results of derivatives.

Scheme 1
scheme 1

Synthesis of heterocyclic pyrimidine derivatives (Ax1–Ax19)

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Table 1 The physicochemical properties of synthesized pyrimidine derivatives
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Table 2 Spectral data of synthesized pyrimidine compounds
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Antimicrobial screening results

The pyrimidine compounds (Ax1–Ax19) were examined for their antimicrobial potency towards Gram −ve and Gram +ve bacteria as well as fungal species by tube dilution technique. Table 3, Figs. 1 and 2 show the antimicrobial evaluation results. The compounds showed significant antimicrobial activity than standard drugs, norfloxacin (for antibacterial study) and fluconazole (for antifungal study). In Gram negative bacteria, compound Ax14 (MICec = 21.7 µM) exhibited better antibacterial potency toward E. coli. In the case of Gram positive bacteria, compound Ax8 (MICsa = 21.2 µM) and (MICbs = 10.6 µM) showed the significant potency towards S. aureus and B. subtilis, respectively. The antifungal screening results displayed that compounds, Ax2 (MICan = 9.40 µM) and Ax3 (MICca = 10.7 µM) showed the significant potency towards A. niger and C. albicans, respectively. The molecules may be used as the lead compounds for the development of new antimicrobial agents.

Table 3 Antimicrobial activity results of synthesized heterocyclic pyrimidine derivatives
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Fig. 1
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Antibacterial screening graph of synthesized compounds

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Fig. 2
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Antifungal screening graph of synthesized compounds

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Antiproliferative screening results

Table 4 and Fig. 3 show the screening results of the developed pyrimidine compounds (Ax1–Ax19) towards human colorectal carcinoma cell line by SRB assay [23]. The synthesized compounds exhibited good anticancer activity, with some of the findings comparable or highly potent than 5-fluorouracil (standard drug). Compounds Ax2 (IC50 = 2.70 µM), Ax7 (IC50 = 1.90 µM), Ax8 (IC50 = 2.20 µM) and Ax10 (IC50 = 0.80 µM), in particular, were the four best compounds which elicited more potent anticancer activity when compared to the reference drug (IC50 = 6.20 µM). They may be used as lead molecules for the development of new anticancer agent.

Table 4 Antiproliferative activity of synthesized pyrimidine derivatives
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Fig. 3
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Anticancer screening graph of synthesized compounds

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Molecular docking results

The CDKs is an enzyme family that plays an significant role in the regulation of the cell cycle and thus is an especially advantageous target for the development of small inhibitory molecules [13]. The crystal structure of cyclin dependent kinase 8 (PDB Id: 5FGK) which has a good resolution of about 2.36 Å was used for docking study. The binding site of the target was generated using co-crystallized ligand (5XG) as reference (X = − 0.138, Y = − 24.891, Z = 150.623). Root-mean square deviation (RMSD) value of docked pose of native co-crystallized ligand was calculated as 0.08 Å. The synthesized pyrimidine compounds were then docked to the active site of CDK8. The docking results were analysed based on the docking score obtained from GLIDE. Among the docked compounds, compounds Ax1, Ax9 and Ax10 displayed moderate to good docked score with anticancer potency against a HCT116 cancer cell line. Ligand interaction image and binding mode of compounds Ax1, Ax9 and Ax10 in the active site of CDK8 protein having co-crystallized ligand 5XG and 5-Fu is having a different binding mode to that of active compounds (Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7). The molecular docking results depend on the statistical evaluation function according to which the interaction energy in numerical values as docking scores [24].

Fig. 4
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Binding surface and 2D ligand interaction diagram of compound Ax1

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Fig. 5
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Binding surface and 2D ligand interaction diagram of compound Ax9

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Fig. 6
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Binding surface and 2D ligand interaction diagram of compound Ax10

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Fig. 7
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Binding surface and 2D ligand interaction diagram of 5-fluorouracil (standard drug)

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Molecular docking study of the selected compounds have good to better anticancer potency toward cancer cell line were displayed moderate to better docking score within binding pocket. Binding mode of active compounds Ax1, Ax9 and Ax10 within the binding region, compound Ax10 have moderate docked score (− 4.191) with better potency (0.80 μM) and formation of pi-cation interaction with amino acid residue Arg356; compound Ax1 have better docked score (− 5.668) with lowest potency (48.4 μM) and formation of H-bond with amino acid residues Val27 and Lys153, pi-cation interaction with Arg356 and salt bridge with Asp173, Lys52 and Glu66 within the binding pocket and compound Ax9 have moderate docked score (− 4.477) with moderate potency (16.7 μM) and formation of H-bond with amino acid residue Lys153 within the binding pocket and compared to 5-fluorouracil have better docked score (− 5.753) with good potency (6.20 μM) and formation of H-bond with amino acid residues Ala100 and Asp98 within binding pocket. The docking score results and interacting residues are showing in Table 5. Thus the docking analyses suggested that the pyrimidines can act as of great interest in successful chemotherapy. Cyclin dependent kinase-8 may be the target protein of pyrimidine derivatives for their antiproliferative activity.

Table 5 Docking results of active compounds (Ax1, Ax9 and Ax10) and standard drug
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SAR (structure activity relationship) study

The following SAR can be deduced from the antimicrobial and anticancer screening results of pyrimidine analogues (Fig. 8).

Fig. 8
figure 8

Structural activity relationship of the synthesized compounds

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Antimicrobial activity

The presence of EWG (electron withdrawing group) (inductively)—Br at p-position of the substituted benzylidene aromatic nucleus of compound Ax2 improved the antifungal activity against A. niger and –N(CH3)2) (an electron donating group, by mesomeric affect) at p-position of the benzylidene nucleus of compound Ax8 enhanced the antibacterial activity towards S. aureus and B. subtilis.

On the other side, The presence of EWG (inductively)—Br at p-position of the substituted benzylidene aromatic nucleus of compound Ax3 improved the antifungal activity toward C. albicans and –N(C2H5)2) (an electron donating group, by mesomeric affect) at p-position the substituted benzylidene aromatic ring of compound Ax14 enhanced the antibacterial activity towards E. coli.

Anticancer activity

The presence of EWG (inductively)—Br at p-position of the substituted benzylidene aromatic nucleus of compounds Ax2 and –N(CH3)2) (an electron donating group, by mesomeric affect) at p-position of the substituted benzylidene aromatic ring of compound Ax8 enhanced the anticancer activity towards a human colorectal carcinoma cell line (HCT116), however, electron releasing groups like p-OCH3 and o-OH on substituted benzylidene aromatic ring of compounds Ax7 and Ax10, respectively showed significant role in improving the anticancer activity toward a HCT116 cell line. The SAR study is consistent the results of Kumar et al. [6, 15] and Xu et al. [25].

Experimental

Preparatory materials were obtained from commercial sources [CDH Pvt. Ltd, HiMedia Lab. Pvt. Ltd. and Loba Chemie, Pvt Ltd. Mumbai, India] for the research work. Reaction advancement was observed by TLC (silica gel plates) using chloroform: methanol as mobile phase. Melting point was determined in open capillary tube method. Elemental analysis of the derivatives was determined by Perkin–Elmer 2400 C, H and N instrument. FTIR spectrum was recorded on Bruker 12060280 spectrometer. The Mass spectrum of the molecules was recorded on Waters Micromass Q-ToF Micro instrument. 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR were recorded at 600 MHz and 150 MHz, respectively by Bruker Avance III 600. 1H-NMR data are given as multiplicity and number of protons.

Procedure for the synthesis of pyrimidine derivatives (Scheme 1, Ax1–Ax19)

(A): Synthesis of 1-(2-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzylideneamino)-6-(4-nitrophenyl)pyrimidin-4-yl)-naphthalen-2-ol (Compound Ax1)

p-Nitroacetophenone (0.01 mol) and naphthaldehyde (0.01 mol) were added in 50 mL methanol after that 10 mL NaOH solution was added drop by drop to the reaction mixture and kept on vigorous stirring for 30 min. When the reaction mixture became turbid, it was maintained at 20–22 °C on magnetic stirrer for 4–5 h and then, the reaction mixture was neutralised by 0.1–0.2 N HCl to yield chalcone [Int-I]. The chalcone was filtered and recrystallised with methanol [26]. To the Int-I (0.01 mol), potassium hydroxide (0.01 mol) and guanidine nitrate (0.25 M) in methanol (30 mL) was added and refluxed for 5–6 h (RT). The reaction mixture was cooled and quenched with 20 mL of 0.5 M HCl solution in water to yield pyrimidine [Int-II] [27]. The Int-II (0.01 mol) was then refluxed with substituted benzaldehyde (0.01 mol) in methanol 50 mL in presence of glacial acetic acid for 2–3 h (RT). The precipitate generated by adding the reaction mixture to the ice cold water was filtered and recrystallised with methanol [28].

(B): Synthesis of 1-(2-substituted benzylideneamino)-6-(4-substituted benzylideneamino) phenyl)pyrimidin-4-yl) naphthalen-2-ol (Compounds Ax2, Ax7, Ax8 and Ax11)

p-Aminoacetophenone (0.01 mol) and naphthaldehyde (0.01 mol) were added in 50 mL methanol after that 10 mL NaOH solution was added drop by drop to the reaction mixture and kept on vigorous stirring for 30 min. When the reaction mixture became turbid, it was maintained at 20–22 °C on magnetic stirrer for 4–5 h. The reaction mixture was neutralised by 0.1–0.2 N HCl to yield chalcone [Int-I]. The chalcone was filtered and recrystallised with methanol [26]. To the Int-I (0.01 mol), potassium hydroxide (0.01 mol) and guanidine nitrate (0.25 M) in methanol (30 mL) was added and refluxed for 5–6 h (RT). The reaction mixture was cooled and quenched with 20 mL of 0.5 M HCl solution in water to yield pyrimidine [Int-II] [27]. The Int-II (0.01 mol) was then refluxed with substituted benzaldehyde (0.02 mol) in methanol 50 mL in presence of glacial acetic acid for 2–3 h (RT). The precipitate generated by adding the reaction mixture to the ice cold water was filtered and recrystallised with methanol [28].

(C): Synthesis of N-(2-substituted benzylidene)-4-(4-substituted phenyl)-6-(3,4,5-trimethoxy- phenyl)pyrimidin-2-amine (Compounds Ax3-Ax6, Ax9, Ax10, Ax12, Ax13, Ax14-Ax19)

p-Substituted acetophenone (0.01 mol) and 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzaldehyde (0.01 mol) were added in 50 mL methanol after that 10 mL NaOH solution was added drop by drop to the reaction mixture and kept on vigorous stirring for 30 min. When the reaction mixture became turbid it was maintained at 20–22 °C on magnetic stirrer for 4–5 h and then, the reaction mixture was neutralised by 0.1–0.2 N HCl to yield chalcone [Int-I]. The chalcone was filtered and recrystallised with methanol [26]. To the Int-I (0.01 mol), potassium hydroxide (0.01 mol) and guanidine nitrate (0.25 M) in methanol (30 mL) was added and refluxed for 5–6 h (RT). The reaction mixture was cooled and quenched with 20 mL of 0.5 M HCl solution in water to yield pyrimidine [Int-II] [27]. The Int-II (0.01 mol) was then refluxed with substituted benzaldehyde (0.01 mol) in methanol 50 mL and added few drops of glacial acetic acid for 2–3 h (RT). The precipitate generated by adding the reaction mixture to the ice cold water was filtered and recrystallised with methanol [28].

Biological evaluations (antimicrobial and anticancer)

The antimicrobial evaluation of developed derivatives (Ax1-Ax19) was carried out by tube dilution technique [29] towards Gram+ bacteria species (S. aureus MTCC3160; B. subtilis MTCC441) and Gram− ve bacterium species (E. coli MTCC443) and fungal species: C. albicans MTCC227; A. niger MTCC281. The stock solution of compounds and control drugs (norfloxacin and fluconazole) were prepared in DMSO to get a concentration of 100 µg/mL. Dilutions of test and reference compounds were prepared in Sabouraud dextrose broth I.P. (fungi) and double strength nutrient broth I.P. (bacteria) [30]. The test samples were incubated at 37 ± 1 °C for 48 h (C. albicans), at 25 ± 1 °C for 7 days (A. niger), 37 ± 1 °C for 24 h (bacteria) respectively and the screening results were recorded in terms of MIC. The antiproliferative potency of the developed derivatives was carried out by SRB assay [23] toward human colorectal carcinoma cancer cell line [HCT116 (ATCC CCL-247)]. Data was presented as mean IC50 of triplicates.

Molecular docking

The molecular docking study was performed of the synthesized pyrimidine derivatives by GLIDE docking program of maestro v11.5 (Schrodinger 2018-1). Among the docked compounds, compounds Ax1, Ax9 and Ax10 displayed moderate to good docked score within the binding pocket of the selected protein i.e. PDB Id: 5FGK with anticancer potency against a HCT116. The protein target for heterocyclic pyrimidine compounds was identified through the literature survey [6, 31]. Pyrimidine moiety has wide spectrum of biological potential in medicinal filed [32]. CDK8 (PDB Id: 5FGK) having native ligand 5XG (co-crystallized) with good resolution about 2.36 Å for docking study. Method: X-ray diffraction, R-value free: 0.237 [33]. The root-mean-square deviation is a measure of the average distance between the atoms of superimposed structures. RMSD value of the co-crystallized native ligand (5XG) was calculated. First, Grid is generated using ATP binding site, then docking scores are calculated (Schrodinger 2018-1, maestro v11.5) [34]. Ligand preparation is done using LigPrep module of maestro v11.5. To give the best results, the molecular structures that are docked must be good representations of the actual ligand structures as they would appear in a protein–ligand complex [35].

Conclusion

In the present study, a series of heterocyclic pyrimidine compounds was synthesized in considerable yield and confirmed by FTIR, NMR, MS, CHN analysis. The synthesized compounds showed appreciable antimicrobial and antiproliferative activities. Structure activity relationship study indicated that compounds (Ax2, Ax3, Ax8 and Ax14) having electron withdrawing and compounds (Ax7 and Ax10) have electron releasing groups at substituted benzylidene aromatic nucleus exhibited significant antimicrobial and antiproliferative activities. Further, molecular docking study demonstrated that compound Ax1 showed best docked score with lowest anticancer potency and compound Ax10 showed the moderate docked score with better anticancer potency and compared to the 5-fluorouracil having better docked score with good anticancer potency. Cyclin dependent kinase-8 may be the target protein of heterocyclic pyrimidine compound for their antiproliferative potency. Based on the docking results it is suggested that more structural modifications are required in derivatives Ax1 and Ax10 to make them more potent anticancer agents and these compounds may be used as leads for the development of novel antimicrobial and anticancer agents.