Green synthesis of diethyl((2-iodo-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)amino)(aryl)methyl)phosphonates as potent α-glucosidase inhibitors

Abstract

Novel diethyl((2-iodo-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)amino)(aryl)methyl)phosphonates (4a-j) were synthesized via a simple and efficient one pot by three-component condensation reaction (Kabachnik-Fields reaction) of 2-iodo-4-trifluoromethyl aniline, aromatic aldehydes and diethyl phosphite in presence of anatase TiO2 nanoparticles as catalyst under solvent free conditions. The molecular docking studies of synthesized compounds with α-glucosidase enzyme revealed that these compounds have strong α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. The synthesized compounds (4a-j) are also screened for in vitro α-glucosidase inhibitory activity and the results showed compound 4i as the strongest inhibitor and compounds 4a, 4b, 4f and 4g as stronger inhibitors even better than the reference standard acarbose.