Novel N-allyl/propargyl tetrahydroquinolines: Synthesis via Three-component Cationic Imino Diels-Alder Reaction, Binding Prediction, and Evaluation as Cholinesterase Inhibitors

New N‐allyl/propargyl 4‐substituted 1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroquinolines derivatives were efficiently synthesized using acid‐catalyzed three components cationic imino Diels–Alder reaction (70–95%). All compounds were tested in vitro as dual acetylcholinesterase and butyryl‐cholinesterase inhibitors and their potential binding modes, and affinity, were predicted by molecular docking and binding free energy calculations (∆G) respectively. The compound 4af (IC50 = 72 μm) presented the most effective inhibition against acetylcholinesterase despite its poor selectivity (SI = 2), while the best inhibitory activity on butyryl‐cholinesterase was exhibited by compound 4ae (IC50 = 25.58 μm) with considerable selectivity (SI = 0.15). Molecular docking studies indicated that the most active compounds fit in the reported acetylcholinesterase and butyryl‐cholinesterase active sites. Moreover, our computational data indicated a high correlation between the calculated ∆G and the experimental activity values in both targets. N‐allyl/propargyltetrahydroquinolines showed inhibitory activity against cholinesterases. Synthesis of tetrahydroquinolines proceeds via a three‐component cationic imino Diels–Alder reaction. The mechanism of enzymatic inhibition was determined by kinetic assays. The computer calculations are consistent with the experimental results.