Synthesis, Spectroscopic Characterization, and In Silico Evaluation of Heteroaromatic Chalcone Derivatives at the Colchicine-Binding Site of α/β-Tubulin

Six heteroaromatic chalcone derivatives (C1–C6) were synthesized by base-catalyzed Claisen–Schmidt condensation and characterized by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) spectroscopy. Physicochemical properties, drug-likeness, absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME), toxicity, and predicted tubulin binding were evaluated using SwissADME, ProTox 3.0, and Molecular Operating Environment (MOE) 2019 docking at the colchicine-binding site of α/β-tubulin (Protein Data Bank ID: 4O2B). The docking protocol was validated by re-docking colchicine. The compounds were obtained in 60–80% yields with melting points of 110–196 °C. All derivatives showed zero Lipinski rule-of-five violations and high predicted gastrointestinal absorption. Predicted oral median lethal dose (LD₅₀) values ranged from 800 to 2652 mg/kg. Docking scores ranged from −7.116 to −5.914 kcal/mol. C3 showed the most favorable score (−7.116 kcal/mol) versus re-docked colchicine (−6.992 kcal/mol), with predicted hydrogen bonds to Asn A101 and Lys B254. C3 also had the highest predicted lipophilicity and poorest aqueous solubility, indicating a structure–property trade-off. Experimental tubulin-focused biochemical and cellular studies are required before biological activity can be inferred.