Design, synthesis and cholinesterase inhibitory properties of new oxazole benzylamine derivatives.

The enzymes acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) are primary targets in attenuating the symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases. Their inhibition results in elevated concentrations of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine which supports communication among nerve cells. It was previously shown for 4/5-arylethenyloxazole compounds to have moderate AChE and BChE inhibitory properties. A preliminary docking study showed that elongating oxazole molecules and adding a new NH group could make them more prone to bind to the active site of both enzymes. Therefore, new amino-4-/5-arylethenyl-oxazoles were designed and synthesised by the Buchwald-Hartwig amination of a previously synthesised chloro-arylethenyloxazole derivative. Additionally, naphthoxazole benzylamine photoproducts were obtained by efficient photochemical electrocyclization reaction. Novel compounds were tested as inhibitors of both AChE and BChE. All of the compounds exhibited binding preference for BChE over AChE, especially for amino-4-/5-arylethenyl-oxazole derivatives which inhibited BChE potently (IC in µM range) and AChE poorly (IC≫100 µM). Therefore, due to the selectivity of all of the tested compounds for binding to BChE, these compounds could be applied for further development of cholinesterase selective inhibitors.HIGHLIGHTSSeries of oxazole benzylamines were designed and synthesisedThe tested compounds showed binding selectivity for BChENaphthoxazoles were more potent AChE inhibitors.