Synthesis, characterization, molecular docking, and anticancer activities of new 1,3,4-oxadiazole-5-fluorocytosine hybrid derivatives

•1,3,4-Oxadiazole-5-fluorocytosine hybrids were synthesized and evaluated for their anticancer activity against 4 cancer cell lines.•Compound 5e exhibited the best antiproliferative activities against HT-1080 cells.•Compound 5e induced apoptosis by activation of caspase 3/7 and arrested cell cycle.•Molecular docking suggested that compound 5e activates caspase-3.•Hybrid compounds showed no detectable anti-SARS-CoV-2 activities.