Free radical scavenging and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of ( E )-methyl/ethyl-3-(2-hydroxyphenyl)acrylates

( E )-Methyl/ethyl-3-(2-hydroxyphenyl)acrylates 3a-x have been prepared by the reaction of salicylaldehydes 1a-l with Wittig reagents such as methyl (triphenylphosphoranylidene)acetate 2a and ethyl (triphenylphosphoranylidene)acetate 2b in dry DCM at room temperature. All the synthesized compounds have been evaluated for free-radical scavenging and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities. Compounds 3c and 3d display DPPH free radical scavenging activity. All the compounds have shown ABTS free radical scavenging activity except four compounds 3s-t and 3w-x . Compounds 3g , 3p and 3r display α-glucosidase inhibitory activity.