Theoretical insights into the effect of halogenated substituent on the electronic structure and spectroscopic properties of the favipiravir tautomeric forms and its implications for the treatment of COVID-19. Issue 56 (1st November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Assis, Letícia Cristina; de Castro, Alexandre Alves; de Jesus, João Paulo Almirão; da Cunha, Elaine Fontes Ferreira; Nepovimova, Eugenie; Krejcar, Ondrej; Kuca, Kamil; Ramalho, Teodorico Castro; La Porta, Felipe de Almeida
• Is Part Of: RSC advances. Volume 11:Issue 56(2021)
• Page Start: 35228
• Page End: 35244
• Publication Date: 2021-11-01
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1039/d1ra06309j
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2046-2069

Abstract

Abstract : In this study, we systematically investigated the electronic structure, spectroscopic properties, and tautomerism of halogenated favipiravir compounds (fluorine, chlorine, and bromine) from a computational perspective. Abstract : In this study, we systematically investigated the electronic structure, spectroscopic (nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared, Raman, electron ionization mass spectrometry, UV-Vis, circular dichroism, and emission) properties, and tautomerism of halogenated favipiravir compounds (fluorine, chlorine, and bromine) from a computational perspective. Additionally, the effects of hydration on the proton transfer mechanism of the tautomeric forms of the halogenated favipiravir compounds are discussed. Our results suggest that spectroscopic properties allow for the elucidation of such tautomeric forms. As is well-known, the favipiravir compound has excellent antiviral properties and hence was recently tested for the treatment of new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). Through in silico modeling, in the current study, we evaluate the role of such tautomeric forms in order to consider the effect of drug-metabolism in the inhibition process of the main protease (M pro ) and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of SARS-CoV-2 virus. According to the molecular docking, all halogenated compounds presented a better interaction energy than the co-crystallized active ligand (−3.5 kcal mol −1 ) in the viral RdRp, in both wild-type (−6.3 to −6.5 kcal mol −1 ) and variant (−5.4 to −5.6 kcal mol −1 ) models. The variant analyzed for RdRp (Y176C) decreases the affinity of the keto form of the compounds in the active site, and prevented the ligands from interacting with RNA. These findings clearly indicated that all these compounds are promising as drug candidates for this molecular target.