Synthesis, α-glucosidase inhibition and in silico studies of some 4-(5-fluoro-2-substituted-1H-benzimidazol-6-yl)morpholine derivatives

In this study, a new series of 4-(5-fluoro-2-substituted-1H-benzimidazol-6-yl)morpholine derivatives has been synthesized and screened for their α-glucosidase inhibitory potential. All molecules showed a considerable α-glucosidase inhibitory potential with IC₅₀ values ranging from 20.46 ± 0.21 to 0.18 ± 0.01 µg/mL when compared with the acarbose (IC₅₀ = 8.16 ± 0.12 µg/mL) as the standard. Compound 4 k having methoxy group on phenyl ring had the highest inhibitory effect with IC₅₀ = 0.18 ± 0.01 µg/mL value among the examined compounds. Electron-donating groups such as methyl and methoxy on the phenyl ring played an important role in the inhibition. Also, the Lineweaver-Burk plots analysis displayed that the inhibition type of 4k was the competitive mode like acarbose as standard. In silico studies were also performed to explore the binding interaction of the most active compound.