The current research focused on the synthesis of two series of pyrazole derivatives and evaluation of their insecticidal effectiveness. In the first series, seven pyrazole Schiff bases 3a-g were successfully synthesized with yields (79–95%) by condensing phenylfuran-2-carbaldehyde with substituted pyrazole rings. In the second series, eleven amino acid-pyrazole conjugates 6a–k were synthesized utilizing acetic acid, sulfuric acid, morpholine, and EDC. HCl achieving yields of 59% to 94%. The synthesized compounds were assessed for their chemotherapeutic efficacy against locusts and termites by calculating LC50 values, thereby determining their potential as anti-termite and anti-locust agents. Among the eighteen synthesized pyrazole compounds, the Schiff base pyrazole molecules 3f (LC50 = 0.001 μg/mL) and 3d (LC50 = 0.006 μg/mL) demonstrated excellent anti-termite activity compared to the reference drug fipronil (LC50 = 0.038 μg/mL). Pyrazole derivative 6 h with LC50 = 47.68 μg/mL exhibited superior anti-locust activity than the reference drug fipronil (LC50 = 63.09 μg/mL). Additionally, compound 3b, containing NO2 functionality at the meta position, exhibited notable and significant anti-locust activity with an LC50 values of 100.00 μg/mL. However, the highest mortality was caused by the glycine conjugate of fipronil 6 h of the 2nd series with an LC50 value of 47.68 μg/mL, which also proved to be a potent anti-locust agent. This study explores the efficacy of biologically active pyrazole structures as potential insecticidal agents through a combination of virtual molecular docking analysis and biological experimental investigations. The results demonstrate a strong correlation between the computational predictions and experimental outcomes, suggesting that the pyrazole derivatives exhibit significant insecticidal properties. The findings highlight the potential of these compounds in the development of innovative insecticides, paving the way for future research in pest control strategies.
Furan chalcone scaffolds belong to the most privileged and promising oxygen-containing heterocyclic class of compounds, which have a wide spectrum of therapeutic applications in the field of pharmaceutics, pharmacology, and medicinal chemistry. This research described the synthesis of a series of twelve novel and seven reported furan chalcone (conventional synthetic approach) analogues 4a–s through the application of microwave-assisted synthetic methodology and evaluated for therapeutic inhibition potential against bacterial urease enzyme. In the first step, a series of nineteen substituted 5-aryl-2-furan-2-carbaldehyde derivatives 3a–s were achieved in moderate to good yields (40–70%). These substituted 5-aryl-2-furan-2-carbaldehyde derivatives 3a–s were condensed with acetophenone via Claisen–Schmidt condensation to furnish 19 substituted furan chalcone scaffolds 4a–s in excellent yields (85–92%) in microwave-assisted synthetic approach, while in conventional methodology, these furan chalcone 4a–s were furnished in good yield (65–90%). Furan chalcone structural motifs 4a–s were characterized through elemental analysis and spectroscopic techniques. These nineteen (19)-afforded furan chalcones 4a–s were screened for urease inhibitory chemotherapeutic efficacy and most of the furan chalcones displayed promising urease inhibition activity. The most active urease inhibitors were 1-phenyl-3-[5-(2′,5′-dichlorophenyl)-2-furyl]-2–propen-1-one 4h with an IC50 value of 16.13 ± 2.45 μM, and 1-phenyl- 3-[5-(2′-chlorophenyl)-2-furyl] -2-propen-1-one 4s with an IC50 value of 18.75 ± 0.85 μM in comparison with reference drug thiourea (IC50 = 21.25 ± 0.15 μM). These furan chalcone derivatives 4h and 4s are more efficient urease inhibitors than reference drug thiourea. Structure–activity relationship (SAR) revealed that the 2,5-dichloro 4h and 2-chloro 4s moiety containing furan chalcone derivatives may be considered as potential lead reagents for urease inhibition. The in silico molecular docking study results are in agreement with the experimental biological findings. The results of this study may be helpful in the future drug discovery and designing of novel efficient urease inhibitory agents from this biologically active class of furan chalcones.