Eleven glycosyl coumarylthiazole derivatives are synthesized by cyclization and condensation of glycosyl thiourea with 3-bromoacetyl coumarins in ethanol. The reaction conditions are optimized and good yields of products (80%–95%) are obtained. The structures of all new products were confirmed by IR, 1H and 13C NMR, and by HRMS (electrospray ionization). The in vitro acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activities of these new compounds are tested by Ellman’s method. Among them, N-(2-acetamido-3,4,6-tri- O-acetyl-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-4-(6-nitrocoumarinyl)-1,3-thiazole-2-amine showed the best activity with an in vitro AChE inhibitory rate of 58% and an IC50 value of 12 ± 0.38 μg/mL.

Eight glycosyl benzoxazole derivatives are synthesized by nucleophilic addition reactions of glycosyl isothiocyanate with o-aminophenol in tetrahydrofuran. The reaction conditions are optimized, and good yields (86%–94%) were obtained. The structures of all new products are confirmed by infrared, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance, and high-resolution mass spectrometry (electrospray ionization). In addition, the in vitro cholinesterase inhibitory activities of these new compounds are tested by Ellman’s method.