2,2′-(2-Oxopropane-1,3-diyl)bis-(2-hydroxy-1H-indene-1,3(2H)-dione): synthesis, crystal, electronic and molecular docking studies

We have synthesized here a novel ninhydrin derivative 2,2′-(2-oxopropane-1,3-diyl)bis-(2-hydroxy-1H-indene-1,3(2H)-dione) (1) through a green and facile strategy with the use of acetic acid as catalyst. The structure has been determined by spectral analysis and by single crystal X-ray analysis. This molecule contains two 2-hydroxy-1,3-indanedione moieties fused with 2-oxo-propane at 1 and 3 positions. The molecular structure of the title compound (C21H14O7) has been optimized and the structural parameters have been calculated by DFT/B3LYP method using 6-311++G(d,p) basis set. The fundamental vibrational wave numbers and their intensities were calculated and a good agreement between observed FT-IR spectrum and scaled calculated wavenumbers has been achieved. The electronic properties of the molecule are discussed with the help of the descriptors such as HOMO–LUMO and MEPS. In addition, the molecular docking and NBO analyses are also carried out to get a better insight of the molecule. The major intermolecular interactions in the crystal structure are established through hydroxy group to carbonyl oxygen of the adjacent molecules by means of strong O–H…O hydrogen bonds leading to form a zigzag arrangement running along b-axis.