Synthesis and characterization of novel quinazolinone-based azo disperse dyes: molecular docking, ADMET, in vitro, and dyeing performance on polyester fabric

Abstract

A series of new azo quinazolinone disperse dyes was synthesized and characterized using various spectroscopic techniques. The synthetic azo dyes were applied to polyester fabrics, and their multifunctional properties, such as fastness, color assessment, dye exhaustion, fixation, pH effect, color strength, dyeing time, and dye concentration, were studied and yielded reasonable results, indicating the dyes' effectiveness in dyeing polyester. Additionally, the UV protection factor of the dyes was evaluated; results showed that these dyes provide excellent UV protection. The mode of action of these compounds was also examined both in silico through molecular docking and in vitro to assess their potential antimicrobial properties. Furthermore, ADMET pharmacokinetics were analyzed. The experimental data aligned with the molecular docking findings, which indicated that compound 5b inhibited bacterial DNA gyrase with a binding score of −10.32 kcal mol⁻¹. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the newly synthesized dyes have strong potential in the textile dyeing industry and may be further developed.