ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

In vitro anticholinesterase activities, molecular docking studies, DFT calculations and drug-likeness characters of β-keto ester

Ece Oğuz, Ufuk Atmaca, and Pınar Güller

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey

E-mail: ptaser@atauni.edu.tr

Received: 9 March 2025  Accepted: 29 September 2025

Abstract:

Keto esters have been reported to exhibit biological activities such as antitumor, antibacterial, and antifungal effects. In the current study, cholinesterase inhibitor potentials of β-keto ester derivatives were evaluated by in vitro enzyme inhibition assays. Among the synthesized compounds, it was determined that while derivative 2l, dimethyl 2-(4-bromobenzoyl) succinate (IC₅₀ of 1.21 µM), showed a strong inhibition effect on acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Most effective molecule on butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) was 2n, dimethyl 2-([1,1’-biphenyl]-4-carbonyl)succinate, having IC₅₀ as 26.54 µM. The free binding energies of ligands were estimated between − 6.86 kcal/mol and − 5.39 kcal/mol for hAChE receptor. Derivatives indicated estimated free binding energies in the range between − 6.42 kcal/mol and − 7.96 kcal/mol for hBuChE. Besides reactivity descriptors and drug-likeness characters of compounds were analyzed. All derivatives were predicted to have no violation of Lipinski’s rule of five.

Keywords: β-Keto ester; Cholinesterase; Molecular docking; Inhibition

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-025-04417-6

Chemical Papers 80 (1) 633–644 (2026)