Design synthesis and evaluation of a novel 1,3,4-thiadiazole derivative as a potent anticancer and antibacterial agent supported by electronic property analysis and simulation studies

The development of heterocyclic scaffolds with anticancer and antimicrobial potential remains an important pursuit in medicinal chemistry. Among these, 1, 3, 4-thiadiazole derivatives are notable for their structural adaptability and wide spectrum of biological activities. In this study, a novel thiadiazole derivative was synthesised through a two-step process involving the condensation of (R) -carvone with thiosemicarbazide followed by cyclisation with diarylnitrilimines, affording high yields of 86–87%. The structure was confirmed by ¹H/¹3 C NMR, IR spectroscopy, and density functional theory (B3LYP/6-311 + + G (d, p) ), validating the formation of the thiadiazole ring. Vibrational and NMR analyses further confirmed the electronic environments, while computational insights revealed molecular stability with a HOMO-LUMO gap of 3. 64 eV. Natural bond orbital analysis highlighted hyperconjugative interactions, and molecular electrostatic potential mapping identified reactive nucleophilic and electrophilic sites. Non-linear optical properties were found superior to those of urea, suggesting additional functional applications. Biological assays demonstrated significant pharmacological potential, with cytotoxic evaluation showing pronounced activity against prostate cancer PC3 cells (IC 50 = 18. 45 µM) and antibacterial studies confirming notable inhibition of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Network pharmacology and docking analyses identified BCl2 as a primary target, supported by a binding affinity of − 8. 89 kcal/mol and stable interactions in 100 ns molecular dynamics simulations. ADMET predictions indicated favorable pharmacokinetics, although potential carcinogenicity requires further investigation. Overall, the integration of synthetic, spectroscopic, and computational methods highlights this new thiadiazole derivative as a promising lead with potent cytotoxic and antimicrobial activity, supporting its advancement in future drug design and therapeutic development.