Solubility of Mercaptopurine as an anti-cancer drug in green solvents by spectral studies and DFT

Abstract

Mercaptopurine with the scientific name of 1.7-dihydro-6H-purine-6-thione and brand name of Purinethol, is among cancer treatment drugs. Accordingly, it is used to prevent the formation and expansion of cancer cells, the high solubility of which is effective on their better performance. In this study, using the calculations of Density functional theory (DFT) at level PW91/6-31(d), the stability of the drug structure in green and aqueous solvents was investigated, and by performing both NBO (Natural band orbital) and NMR (Nuclear magnetic resonance) calculations, the amount of molecular stability was calculated and no decay of the structure was found. Thereafter, in the laboratory section, the absorption spectrum of UV-Vis were investigated in both aqueous and alcoholic solvents and solubility of the drug. DFT calculations and laboratory results indicated the preservation of electronic properties of the drug structure in aqueous and alcoholic solvents as well as the increased solubility of the drug in alcoholic solvents compared with aqueous. Correspondingly, this is very important in the drug’s design and synthesis of similar drugs with less harm.