Design, Synthesis, Molecular Docking, and Molecular Dynamics Simulation Studies of Novel 3-Hydroxypyridine-4-one Derivatives as Potential Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors.

Researchers have focused on inhibiting acetylcholinesterase for Alzheimer's disease treatment. In this study, some novel AChE inhibitors were synthesized using hydroxypyridin-4-one plus benzylpiperidine scaffolds which were evaluated using Ellman's method. Accordingly, ((1-(4-methoxyphenethyl)piperidin-4-yl)amino)methyl)-5-hydroxy-1-methylpyridin-4(1H)-one (VII ) showed weaker but promising AChE inhibition compared to donepezil (IC =143.090 nM). The average RMSD values of VII was found to be 2.25 indicated less structural changes in the active site residues. The phenyl group of the phenyl-ethyl-N-piperidine moiety of VII formed hydrophobic interactions with Trp285 and Tyr340. There was a π-cation interaction between nitrogen atom of piperidine ring and Phe294. Another π-cation interaction was found between type 2 amine of linker and Trp85. Piperidine ring interacted with Tyr336, Tyr123, and Phe337 through hydrophobic interactions. Indeed, the VII was predicted to be absorbed across the gastrointestinal tract, though it may be pumped out by P-gp. Indeed, VIId can permeate through the blood brain barrier. MD simulation studies revealed that benzyloxy moiety plays a role similar to benzylpiperidine moiety of donepezil in binding to the active site residues. Also, carbonyl group functioned similar to indanone ketone group. Overall; further research on VII may lead to introduction of a novel class of AChE inhibitors.