Exploration of aroyl/heteroaroyl iminothiazolines featuring 2,4,5-trichlorophenyl moiety as a new class of potent, selective, and in vitro efficacious glucosidase inhibitors

Abstract

A series of iminothiazolines (4a-j) featuring 2,4,5-trichlorophenyl moiety and aroyl/heteroaroyl substituents has been prepared from readily accessible thioureas. In-vitro screening against glucosidase enzymes showed highly specific inhibition of α-glucosidase with a marked dependence of the potency upon the nature of the aroyl/heteroaroyl substituents. The most potent representatives, bearing ortho-tolyl and bulky naphthyl groups displayed the highest inhibitory potential with IC₅₀ value of 0.15±0.01µM compared to standard drug acarbose (IC₅₀=38.2±0.12µM). Several other derivatives (4c, 4d, 4i and 4j) were also significantly powerful and selective inhibitors of α-glucosidase. Binding interactions of potent compounds 4b, 4c, 4h and 4i with α-glucosidase were explored by molecular docking simulation. These results clearly identified a new class of structural leads which can be further investigated for the development of promising α-glucosidase inhibitors for the prevention of diabetes mellitus.

Keywords: Cyclization; Glucosidase; Heterocycles; Iminothiazolines; Inhibition; Thiourea.