Synthesis of novel (R)-4-fluorophenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazoles: A new class of α-glucosidase inhibitors

Diabetes is a non-communicable disease, which occurs either due to the lack of insulin or the inability of the human body to recognize it. The recent data indicates an increase in the trend of people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). alpha-Glucosidase inhibitors are known to reduce the impact of carbohydrates on blood glucose level and prevent the digestion of carbohydrates. alpha-glucosidase inhibitors hold great potential for the treatment of T2DM. In search of better alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, a series of novel (R)-4-fluorophenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazole derivatives were synthesized (6 and 8a-n) and evaluated for their alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity in vitro. All new compounds were characterized by H-1 NMR, C-13 NMR, F-19 NMR, ESI-MS, and where applicable by single crystal X-ray diffraction (8m). A preliminary structure-activity relationship suggested that the presence of 1H-1,2,3-triazole ring in (R)-4-fluorophenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazole derivatives has remarkable contribution in the overall activity. Molecular docking studies were carried out to investigate the binding mode of compounds within the active site of the alpha-glucosidase enzyme. Docking results are in complete agreement with the experimental finding. This study unravelled a new class of triazole derivatives with a-glucosidase inhibitory activity.