Synthesis, characterization and biological screening of 5-substituted-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2yl-N-(2-methoxy-5-chlorophenyl)-2-sulfanyl acetamide

In the current study, a series of 5-substituted-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2yl-N-(2-methoxy-5-chlorophenyl)-2-sulfanyl acetamide was synthesized by converting variously substituted/unsubstituted aromatic organic acids successively into the corresponding esters, hydrazides and then 5-substituted-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-thiols. Finally the target compounds were obtained by stirring 5-substituted-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-thiols with N-(2-methoxy-5-chlorophenyl)-2-bromoacetamide in the presence of N,N-dimethyl formamide (DMF) and sodium hydride (NaH). The structures of the synthesized compounds were confirmed based on (1)H-NMR, IR and mass spectral data. The synthesized compounds were screened against acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and lipoxygenase enzymes (LOX) and were found to be relatively more active against acetyl cholinesterase.