Ultrasound promoted synthesis of 2-imidazolines in water: A greener approach toward monoamine oxidase inhibitors

A series of sixteen 2-substituted-2-imidazolines (where the substituent R = Ph, Me-4-Ph; MeO-4-Ph; (MeO)2-3,4-Ph; (MeO)3-3,4,5-Ph; Ph-4-O-C(O)-Ph; Cl-4-Ph; Cl-2-Ph; Cl2-2,4-Ph; NO2-4-Ph; NO2-3-Ph; Naphth-2-yl; Fur-2-yl; Benzofur-2-yl; Pyridin-2-yl; Quinolin-2-yl) has been synthesized from the reaction of the substituted-aldehydes and ethylenediamine by ultrasound irradiation with NBS in an aqueous medium in high yields (80–99%). The 2-imidazoline ability to inhibit the activity of the A and B isoforms of monoamine oxidase (MAO) was investigated and some of them showed potent and selective MAO inhibitory activity especially for the MAO-B isoform and could become promising candidates for future development.

Graphical abstractA series of sixteen 2-imidazolines (3) has been synthesized from the reaction of 1 and 2 by ultrasound irradiation with NBS in an aqueous medium in high yields (80–99%). The compound 3 ability to inhibit the activity of the A and B isoforms of monoamine oxidase (MAO) was investigated.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide