Synthesis, Biological Activities, DFT Calculations, and Molecular Docking Studies of <i>O</i>-Methyl-Inositols

The concise synthesis of O-methyl-d-inositol derivative and conduritol derivatives was obtained starting from p-benzoquinone. Spectroscopic methods have been performed for the characterization of newly synthesized compounds. Cyclitols are useful molecules with anticancer, antibiotic, antinutrient, and antileukemic activities. Inositol class molecules, known as the most important cyclitol derivatives, were examined in this study for their 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and nitric oxide radical scavenging and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and glycosidase inhibition activities. It was observed that compound 5, in particular, showed efficacy that competed with the standards in terms of both antioxidant activity and enzyme inhibitor potential. Additionally, compound 5 shows effective antimicrobial activity. The water-soluble characteristics and lipophilic properties of the compounds were also considered and discussed. Moreover, the quantum chemical analyses were performed in light of the DFT/B3LYP/6-311G** level computations to elucidate/compare the studied inositols' possible reactivity directions. Additionally, the interactions of the molecules were analyzed against acetylcholinesterase (AChE), peroxiredoxin 5, and DNA gyrase by molecular docking methods. Cholinesterase inhibitors have an important status as the most important drug group used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease today. Considering the effects of inhibition of the alpha-glucosidase enzyme by inhibitors, such molecules can also be used as therapeutic components in the treatment of diabetes.