Synthesis, DFT Characterization and In Silico Evaluation of 1-(4-Methylpiperazin-1-yl-methyl)-3-benzyl-4-(4-hydroxybenzylideneamino)-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (MBHT)

In this study, the compound 1-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl-methyl)-3-benzyl-4-(4-hydroxybenzylideneamino)-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (MBHT), synthesized using the Mannich reaction, was comprehensively investigated using theoretical methods. The stable geometry of the molecule was optimized using the B3LYP and B3PW91 functionals within the framework of density functional theory (DFT) and with the basis set 6-311G(d,p). Structural characterization was performed by determining the functional groups using FT-IR spectroscopy and by detailed investigation of the proton and carbon environments using 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectroscopies. Theoretical IR and NMR data were calculated using Gaussian 09W software and the GIAO method; the obtained results were validated by comparing them with experimental findings. The molecule's electronic structure was evaluated in detail through parameters such as HOMO–LUMO energy levels and energy gap, Natural Bond Orbital (NBO) analysis, nonlinear optical (NLO) properties, molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) maps, and Mulliken charge distributions. These analyses provided information about MBHT's electron distribution, reactivity profile, and potential interaction sites. Furthermore, molecular docking studies were performed using PDB:5HS1 and PDB:5EQB proteins to investigate its in-silico potential for biological interaction with candidiasis. In the final part of the study, ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) analysis was conducted to evaluate MBHT as a drug candidate. The findings reveal both the structural and electronic properties of MBHT, as well as its potential for interaction with biological targets, providing important information regarding the compound's suitability for the drug development process.