Reactivity of the coumarine derivative towards cartilage proteins: combined NBO, QTAIM, and molecular docking study

The equilibrium geometries and chemical reactivities of the novel coumarine derivative, 3-[1-(3-hydroxypropylamino)ethylidene]chroman-2,4-dione, in water and benzene were investigated. The Fukui parameters, calculated by the Natural and Atoms in Molecules charges, were determined for all atoms in both phases. The most potent sites for the electrophilic, nucleophilic, and radical attack are discussed. Molecular docking analysis was carried out to identify the potency of inhibition of the title molecule against human cartilage proteins. The inhibition activity was obtained for ten conformations of ligand inside protein. This study proved that the Fukui indices can be used as the reactivity descriptors for the novel substances with inhibitory activity. Graphical abstract