Design, Synthesis, Molecular Docking & Evaluation of Antioxidant Activity of Novel Quinoline-Azetidinone Hybrid Compounds

The present research focuses on the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of novel quinoline–azetidinone hybrid molecules with potential antioxidant activity. Recognizing the pharmacological significance of quinoline and azetidinone scaffolds, a series of derivatives (5a–5e) were synthesized via a stepwise reaction pathway, beginning with the formation of Schiff bases, followed by cyclization to generate azetidinone rings. The structural confirmation was achieved through IR, ¹H NMR, and mass spectral analyses. Molecular docking studies were conducted using AutoDock Vina (PDB ID: 2X08), where compound 5e exhibited the most favorable binding affinity (–7.2 kcal/mol), surpassing the reference standard ascorbic acid (–6.0 kcal/mol). Antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH assay, with compounds 5a and 5e demonstrating strong radical scavenging potential, correlating with docking predictions. These findings suggest that quinoline–azetidinone hybrids, particularly 5e, represent promising candidates for further development as antioxidant agents.