2‐Amino‐5‐substituted‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole as chemosensor for Ni(II) ion detection: antifungal, antioxidant, DNA binding, and molecular docking studies

Abstract

An oxadiazole derivative 2 was prepared by condensation reaction through cyclization of semicarbazone in the presence of bromine; the structural confirmation was supported by 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, Fourier transform‐infrared spectroscopy, and liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry. Its sensing ability towards Ni2+ ion was examined showing a binding constant of 1.04 × 105 compared with other suitable metal cations (Ca2+, Co2+, Cr3+, Ag+, Pb2+, Fe3+, Mg2+, and K+) using ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) and fluorescence spectroscopic studies. The minimum concentration of Ni2+ ions and limit of detection was found to be 9.4 μM. A job's plot gave the binding stoichiometry ratio of oxadiazole derivative 2 vs Ni2+ ions as 2:1. Furthermore, the intercalative binding mode of oxadiazole derivative 2 with calf thymus DNA was supported by ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) and fluorescent light, viscosity, cyclic voltammetry, time‐resolved fluorescence, and circular dichroism measurements. The molecular docking result gave the binding score for oxadiazole derivative 2 as −6.5 kcal/mol, which further confirmed the intercalative interaction. In addition, the antifungal activity of oxadiazole derivative 2 was also screened against several fungal strains (C. albicans, C. glabrata, and C. tropicalis) by broth dilution and disc diffusion methods. In antioxidant studies, the oxadiazole derivative 2 showed potential scavenging activity against 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl and H2O2 free radicals.