Novel pyrazinamide condensed azetidinones inhibit the activities of cholinesterase enzymes

A series of novel pyrazinamide condensed azetidinones was prepared with pyrazinamide Schiff's bases and chloroacetylchloride in the presence of catalytic amounts of 1,4-dioxane and triethylamine. The chemical structures of the synthesized compounds (6a–6m) were confirmed by melting point analysis, TLC, IR, 1H NMR, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. The synthesized compounds were evaluated for acetyl and butyl cholinesterase inhibitory activities. The compounds showed a range of inhibitory activities that could be categorized as weak, moderate, or high. Compound 6l exhibited potent acetyl and butyl cholinesterase inhibitory activities, with IC50 values of 0.09 μM and 3.3 μM, respectively, when compared with the current therapeutic agent donepezil HCl. Our present study suggests that pyrazinamide condensed azetidinones might be interesting and have potential as acetyl and butyl cholinesterase inhibitory compounds.