Schiff base (Z)-4-((furan-2-ylmethylene)amino) benzenesulfonamide: Synthesis, solvent interactions through hydrogen bond, structural and spectral properties, quantum chemical modeling and biological studies

A new Schiff base (Z)-4-((furan-2-ylmethylene)amino)benzenesulfonamide (FURNI) was synthesized by the reaction reaction between furfural and sulfanilamide followed by characterization using IR, UV–Visible, 1HNMR, and 13CNMR spectral techniques. This was followed by electronic structure studies using DFT and TD-DFT. We simulated the IR spectrum using B3LYP/aug-ccPVDZ level of theory, followed by a comparison with experimental spectra and detailed potential energy distribution and vibrational assignment analysis. The comparison of experimental UV and simulated UV spectrum using TD-DFT CAM-B3LYP/ aug-ccPVDZ in DMSO solvent atmosphere gave good agreement. The compound is found to interact with the solvent water molecule. Energy decomposition analysis showed that there exists a strong hydrogen bond between the compound and the solvent water. As Schiff bases are biologically active, we checked for the potential activity of the synthesized compound with the help of ADMET prediction and found it to be active. Wavefunctions related properties like ELF, ALIE, LOL, and ELF are also reported. Prediction of biological activity spectrum study indicated possible antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungus, which is supported by molecular docking against human mitochondrial (2WYA) protein with a docking score of −7.2 kcal/mol. Experimental antibacterial and antifungal studies using the compound and standard drugs confirmed this prediction.