O-Substituted N(3)-benzyl analogs of vitamin B1 as inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase or butyrylcholinesterase

O-Acyl substituted derivatives of 3-benzyl-5-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4-methyl-1,3-thiazolium chloride which is a structural analog of vitamin B1 were synthesized and evaluated towards acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase in vitro. The inhibition properties of the O-substituted compounds depend on nature of substituents at position 3 and 5 of the thiazolium ring. Some of the thiazolium salts showed high potency in the inhibition of only one of the two enzymes. The selective effects of these inhibitors are governed by substituent at position 5. Kinetic studies and molecular docking simulation were performed for elucidating mechanisms of enzyme-inhibitor complex formation.