Biology-oriented drug synthesis (BIODS) of 2-(2-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazol-1-yl)ethyl aryl ether derivatives, in vitro α-amylase inhibitory activity and in silico studies

Abstract A new library of 2-(2-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazol-1-yl)ethyl aryl ether derivatives ( 1  − 2 3 ) were synthesized and characterized by EI-MS and 1 H NMR, and screened for their α -amylase inhibitory activity. Out of twenty-three derivatives, two molecules 19 (IC 50  = 0.38 ± 0.82 µM) and 23 (IC 50  = 1.66 ± 0.14 µM), showed excellent activity whereas the remaining compounds, except 10 and 17 , showed good to moderate inhibition in the range of IC 50  = 1.77–2.98 µM when compared with the standard acarbose (IC 50  = 1.66 ± 0.1 µM). A plausible structure-activity relationship has also been presented. In addition, in silico studies was carried out in order to rationalize the binding interaction of compounds with the active site of enzyme.