2-(4-Phenyl-5-pyridin-2-yl-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)cyclohexanecarboxylic Acid and Its DMSO Solvate: Synthesis, Crystal Structure and Biological Activity

A new 1,2,4-triazole derivative, 2-(4-phenyl-5-pyridin-2-yl-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)cyclohexanecarboxylic acid, C20H20N4O2 (I), and its dimethyl sulfoxide solvate 1:1 (II) have been synthesized and their crystal structure was established. Compound (I) was screened for its antiproliferative and antiinflammatory activity. Structural analysis indicated the substantial difference between two symmetry independent molecules in (I) and this in (II), it manifests in the relative orientation of pyridine/phenyl and triazole rings, as well as in the orientation of carboxyl group with respect to cyclohexane ring. The molecules A and B in the crystal (I) form two hydrogen-bonded chains through O–Hcarboxyl and Ntriazole atoms, giving separate catemers of symmetry independent molecules. The catemer of (IA) running along the 21 axis is homochiral, while the catemer (IB) is racemic—formed about the c glide plane. In the crystalline solvate (II) complexation of (I) with DMSO induced enantiomeric self-resolution. Obtained crystals are racemic twins, in which each part is built of one enantiomer of (I) having the relative configuration 11S,12R or 11R,12S. A pair of host–guest molecules is linked by the O–Hcarboxyl⋯ODMSO hydrogen bond.