Synthesis, molecular docking and α-glucosidase inhibition of 5-aryl-2-(6′-nitrobenzofuran-2′-yl)-1,3,4-oxadiazoles

Abstract

Twenty derivatives of 5-aryl-2-(6′-nitrobenzofuran-2′-yl)-1,3,4-oxadiazoles (1–20) were synthesized and evaluated for their α-glucosidase inhibitory activities. Compounds containing hydroxyl and halogens (1–6, and 8–18) were found to be five to seventy folds more active with IC50 values in the range of 12.75 ± 0.10–162.05 ± 1.65 μM, in comparison with the standard drug, acarbose (IC50 = 856.45 ± 5.60 μM). Current study explores the α-glucosidase inhibition of a hybrid class of compounds of oxadiazole and benzofurans. These findings may invite researchers to work in the area of treatment of hyperglycemia. Docking studies showed that most compounds are interacting with important amino acids Glu 276, Asp 214 and Phe 177 through hydrogen bonds and arene-arene interaction.