Synthesis and biological evaluation of a new series of benzofuran-1,3,4-oxadiazole containing 1,2,3-triazole-acetamides as potential α-glucosidase inhibitors.

A series of new benzofuran-1,3,4-oxadiazole containing 1,2,3-triazole-acetamides 12a-n as potential anti-α-glucosidase agents were designed and synthesized. α-Glucosidase inhibition assay demonstrated that all the synthesized compounds 12a-n (half-maximal inhibitory concentration [IC ] values in the range of 40.7 ± 0.3-173.6 ± 1.9 μM) were more potent than standard inhibitor acarbose (IC  = 750.0 ± 12.5 µM). Among them, the most potent compound was compound 12c, with inhibitory activity around 19-fold higher than acarbose. Since the most potent compound inhibited α-glucosidase in a competitive mode, a docking study of this compound was also performed into the active site of α-glucosidase. In vitro and in silico toxicity assays of the title compounds were also performed.