In search of new α-glucosidase inhibitors: Imidazolylpyrazole derivatives

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. alpha-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. (C) 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.