Trithiacrown ethers incorporating tetrahydropyridine subunit: synthesis, in vitro and in silico studies of inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase

Several novel thiacrown ether derivatives incorpotating tetrahydropyridine subunits have been prepared by the three-component domino reaction of dialdehyde podand, alkyl acetoacetates and ammonium acetate as the nitrogen source. The inhibitory activity of the compounds obtained against α-glucosidase was tested, which revealed two excellent antidiabetic compounds with low IC₅₀ values in comparison with control drug. Docking studies proposed the plausible interaction between the synthesized compounds and α-glucosidase receptor.