A simple, economical, and green approach to the synthesis of rhodanine derivatives using a tandem aldol condensation-thia-Michael addition process in aqueous diethylamine medium was described. The experiment protocol features simple operations, and the products were isolated in high to excellent yields (82–96%). As spontaneous precipitation always occurs at the end of the process, this leads to easy separation of the products via a simple filtration.

A series of new malonamide derivatives were synthesized by Michael addition reaction ofN1,N3-di(pyridin-2-yl)malonamide into α,β-unsaturated ketones mediated by DBU in DCM at ambient temperature. The inhibitory potential of these compounds in vitro, against α-glucosidase enzyme was evaluated. Result showed that most of malonamide derivatives were identified as a potent inhibitors of α-glucosidase enzyme. Among all the compounds, 4K (IC50 = 11.7 ± 0.5 μM) was found out as the most active one compared to standard drug acarbose (IC50 = 840 ± 1.73 μM).