Synthesis of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroacridine based 1,2,3-triazole derivatives and their biological evaluation as dual cholinesterase and α-glucosidase inhibitors

Abstract

A series of new 1,2,3-triazole-linked tacrine derivatives were synthesized via Cu(I)-catalyzed azide–alkyne 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (CuAAC) of C4-functionalized 9-azido-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroacridines and various phenyl acetylenes including tacrine-based terminal alkynes. All the compounds were obtained in good yields and evaluated for their in vitro cholinesterase (AChE and BChE) and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities. Several compounds exhibited potent dual enzyme inhibition for cholinesterase (AChE and BChE) and also α-glucosidase. In silico docking studies were in good agreement with in vitro results, confirming the dual binding inhibitory activity of the compounds.