We report a new pathway
to synthesize pyrano[2,3-
c
]pyrazoles and their binding
mode to p38 MAP kinase. Pyrano[2,3-
c
]pyrazole derivatives
have been prepared through a four-component
reaction of benzyl alcohols, ethyl acetoacetate, phenylhydrazine,
and malononitrile in the presence of sulfonated amorphous carbon and
eosin Y as catalysts. All products were characterized by melting point,
1
H and
13
C NMR, and HRMS (ESI). The products were
screened
in silico
for their binding activities to
both the ATP-binding pocket and the lipid-binding pocket of p38 MAP
kinase, using a structure-based flexible docking provided by the engine
ADFR. The results showed that eight synthesized compounds had a higher
affinity to the lipid pocket than to the other target site, which
implied potential applications as allosteric inhibitors. Finally,
the most biologically active compound,
5
, had a binding
affinity comparable to those of other proven lipid pocket inhibitors,
with affinity to the target pocket reaching −10.9932 kcal/mol,
and also had the best binding affinity to the ATP-binding pockets
in all of our products. Thus, our research provides a novel pathway
for synthesizing pyrano[2,3-
c
]pyrazoles and bioinformatic
evidence for their biological capability to block p38 MAP kinase pockets,
which could be useful for developing cancer or immune drugs.