Synthesis of 3'-methoxy flavonol and its derivatives as potential inhibitors for Dengue NS2B/NS3 and molecular insight into binding interaction

Background: Infection with the Dengue virus can result in dengue fever (DD), which can progress to dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). Objective: In this work, molecule 3'- methoxy flavonol (3F) and its derivatives (T3F) were synthesized because they may be used to develop dengue antiviral DENV-2 NS2B/NS3 serine proteases. Method: Compound 2'-hydroxy-3-methoxy chalcone and hydrogen peroxide are used in the stirrer method to synthesize compound 3F with a yield of 33.24%, and yellow crystals of the 3F compound were produced. Results: The substance T3F was produced as white crystals with a yield of 69.42% by reacting compound 3F with ethyl chloroacetate using the reflux technique. Compound 3F exhibited absorption at maximal wavelengths of 212 nm, 244
nm, and 344 nm according to UV-Vis spectroscopy. UV-Vis spectroscopy of compound T3F revealed absorption at maximal wavelengths of 212 nm, 243 nm, and 320 nm. While a C=O ester group was replaced in the T3F synthesis step, the FT-IR spectroscopy of the 3F molecule revealed the existence of an OH group. Conclusion: Based on docking results, compound T3F has a binding free energy value that is extremely similar to that of panduratin A. Thus, it revealed that the T3F molecule has the potential to be an inhibitor of the NS2B/NS3 Protease virus DENV-2.