In search of new α-glucosidase inhibitors: Imidazolylpyrazole derivatives

Abstract

Under three different reaction conditions (conventional heating, microwave irradiations and amino acid catalysis), a series of imidazolylpyrazoles (2a-2k) were synthesized in good to excellent yields from a mixture of three precursors: aryl(hetaryl)pyrazole-4-carbaldehydes (1a-1k), benzil and ammonium acetate. α-Glucosidase inhibition assay revealed a new class of highly potent agents wherein each compound displayed significant inhibitory potentials (in terms of percentage inhibition and relative IC₅₀ values) as compared to that of the reference drug (Acarbose). Moreover, molecular modelling of most potent compounds 2h, 2j and 2k also helped in understanding the structure and activity relationship.

Keywords: Diabetes; Docking; Imidazolylpyrazoles; Multicomponent reaction; α-Glucosidase inhibition.