Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of a new series of biphenyl/bibenzyl derivatives functioning as dual inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase

Article abstract of DOI:10.3390/molecules22010172

Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common form of dementia in adults, is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder of the brain characterized by loss of memory and steady deterioration of cognition. Here, a series of symmetrical molecules containing biphenyl/bibenzyl scaffolds (12-36) were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their ability to inhibit both acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE). A biological evaluation showed that most of these biphenyl derivatives were potent AChE and BuChE inhibitors. Among them, compound 15 displayed the greatest ability to inhibit BuChE (IC₅₀ = 0.74 μM) and was also a good AChE inhibitor (IC₅₀ = 1.18 μM). Compound 19 was not only a potent AChE inhibitor (IC₅₀ = 0.096 μM), but also a mild BuChE inhibitor (IC₅₀ =1.25 μM). Overall, these results suggested that compound 19 may be a promising agent in the treatment of AD.