1,3,4-Oxadiazole-3(2H)-carboxamide derivatives as potential novel class of monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors: synthesis, evaluation, and role of urea moiety.

A new series of 1,3,4-oxadiazole-3(2H)-carboxamide derivatives have been synthesized by direct heterocyclization reaction of substituted benzoylisocyanate with various aroylhydrazones as novel monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). The target molecules have been identified on the basis of satisfactory analytical and spectra (IR, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, and HR-MS) data. The newly synthesized compounds were evaluated for their MAO inhibitory activity by kynuramine fluorimetric assay method. The preliminary results showed that most of the compounds have moderate inhibitory activities toward MAO at the concentration of 10(-5)-10(-3)M. This work may provide a novel class of lead compounds with potential MAO inhibitions for further optimization.