Synthesis, Characterization, DNA Binding, Anticancer, and Molecular Docking Studies of Novel Imidazolium-Based Ionic Liquids with Fluorinated Phenylacetamide Tethers

[Image: see text] Newer imidazolium ionic liquid (IL) halides 4a–f appending variety of fluorinated phenylacetamide side chains were designed and synthesized through quaternization of 1-methyl and/or 1,2-dimethylimidazole with appropriate 2-chloro-N-(fluorinatedphenyl)acetamides. The resulting ILs were converted to their respective ionic liquid analogues carrying fluorinated counteranions (PF(6)(–), BF(4)(–), and/or CF(3)COO(–)) 5a–r. All newly synthesized ILs were fully characterized using several spectroscopic experiments such as (1)H, (13)C, (11)B, (19)F, (31)P NMR, and mass analysis. The synthesized ionic liquids were investigated for their DNA binding and anticancer activities. The obtained DNA binding constants ranged from 1.444 × 10(5) to 3.518 × 10(5), indicating a reasonably good binding affinity. The percentage of anticancer activities ranged from 48 to 59 with H-1229 cell line, showing quite good anticancer potential. The modeling studies indicated the interactions of the reported molecules with DNA via hydrogen bonds. These were in agreement with those of DNA binding and anticancer results. Briefly, the designed ionic liquids may be used as good anticancer candidates for treating human cancer.