Regioselective synthesis,biological evaluation,and molecular docking of dihydropyrimidin‐4‐ols as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

A new series of 3,6‐disubstituted 2‐(methylthio)‐4‐(trifluoromethyl)‐3,4‐dihydropyrimidin‐4‐ols displaying methyl, phenyl, aryl, and heteroaryl groups at the 6‐position; and methyl, ethyl, allyl, and phenyl groups at the 3‐position of the dihydropyrimidine ring, were synthesized and evaluated in vitro for acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity. Seven compounds showed activity with IC₅₀ values in the lower micromolar range. The compound 4‐trifluoromethyl‐6‐(4‐fluorophenyl)‐3‐methyl‐2‐methylthio‐3,4‐dihydropyrimidin‐4‐ol ( 6e ) had the best inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ 2.2 ± 0.9 μm ) and this inhibition was characterized as competitive. The molecular docking study showed that the acetylcholinesterase enzyme accommodates compound 6e in its catalytic site. The enantiomers of compound 6e , present similar interactions: π–π stacking interactions between the aromatic ring of the ligand's 4‐fluorophenyl moiety and the aromatic rings of the electron‐rich Trp84; and H‐bonds between the hydroxyl group of Tyr121 and the hydroxyl moiety from 6e . The antioxidant effect of the dihydropyrimidin‐4‐ols was also investigated.