A novel class of selective acetylcholinesterase inhibitors: Synthesis and evaluation of (E)-2-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)-3-heteroarylacrylonitriles

Abstract

(E)-2-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)-3-heteroarylacrylonitriles are described as a new class of selective inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). The most potent compound in the series exhibited good AChE inhibitory activity (IC 50 = 64 μ M). Compound 7f was found to be more selective than galanthamine in inhibiting AChE and it showed a moderate selectivity index. Kinetic studies on AChE indicated that a competitive type of inhibition pattern exist for these acrylonitrile derivates. Molecular docking models of the ligand-AChE complexes suggest that compound 7g is located on the periphery of the AChE active site. © 2012 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.