Phthalocyanine complexes with (4-isopropylbenzyl)oxy substituents: preparation and evaluation of anti-carbonic anhydrase, anticholinesterase enzymes and molecular docking studies

In this study, the preparation, aggregation behavior and investigation of carbonic anhydrase and cholinesterase enzyme inhibition features of non-peripherally (4-isopropylbenzyl)oxy-substituted phthalocyanines (4–6) are reported for the first time. The chemical structures of these new phthalocyanines were elucidated by UV-Vis (ultraviolet-visible), FT-IR (Fourier transform infrared spectrometry), NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) and MALDI-TOF (matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight) mass spectrometry. The substitution of 4-isopropylbenzyl)oxy groups benefits a remarkable solubility and redshift of the phthalocyanines Q-band. Also, these complexes were tested against some enzymes such as butyrylcholinesterase enzyme, human carbonic anhydrase I and II isoforms and acetylcholinesterase enzyme. The phthalocyanine complexes showed Ki values of in the range of 478.13 ± 57.25–887.25 ± 101.20 µM against hCA I, 525.16 ± 45.87–921.14 ± 81.25 µM against hCA II, 68.33 ± 9.13–201.15 ± 35.86 µM against AChE and 86.25 ± 13.65–237.54 ± 24.7 µM against BChE. Molecular docking studies were performed to investigate the binding modes and interaction energies of the (2–6) complexes with the hCA I (PDB ID:1BMZ), hCA II (PDB ID:2ABE), AChE (PDB ID:4EY6) and BChE (PDB ID:2PM8).

Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma