Synthesis of coumarin-thioether conjugates as potential anti-tubercular agents: Their molecular docking and X-ray crystal studies.

• Novel coumarin-thioether conjugates were synthesised and characterised. • The synthesised compounds are assessed for in vitro anti-TB activity (H 37 Rv strain). • Compound 6b (MIC = 0.39 µg/mL) was twofold more active than Rifampin (0.8 µg/mL). • Compounds 6b and 6f possessed low level of cytotoxicity against Vero cells. • Molecular docking study revealed higher C-score values that supports the findings. In this work, we report a series of 4-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)thio)methyl)-2H-chromen-2-one conjugates as promising leads to treat tuberculosis. Spectroscopic and other analytical methods were used to validate the synthesised compounds. The compounds were assessed for in vitro anti-tubercular activity with the H 37 Rv strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Further, cytotoxicity studies were performed using Vero cells. Most of the synthesised conjugates were effective and displayed notable activity with MIC values in the range 0.39–12.5 µg/mL.The most diligent compound 6b (MIC = 0.39 µg/mL) was twofold more active than standard anti-TB drug Rifampin (0.8 µg/mL) and was comparable to Isoniazid (0.1 µg/mL). Compound 6f also displayed exemplary activity (MIC 0.78 µg/mL). Both compounds 6b and 6f possessed low levels of cytotoxicity, Molecular docking evaluation of the synthesised conjugates and 4DQU ligand demonstrated that the synthesised conjugates had higher C-score values that further supports the obtained results. It indicates compound 6b and 6f are promising lead compounds in search of novel antitubercular drug-like molecules. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]