Aldose reductase(AR) has been proposed to be one of the most promising therapeutic target for preventing or ameliorating long-term diabetic complications.Based on the structure features of quinolinylacetic acid and chalcone scaffolds,a series of 4-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1-(4H)-quinolinylacetic acid derivatives were designed as AR inhibitors.Starting from 4-Me aniline or 4-methoxy aniline,fifteen target compounds were successfully synthesized through a seven-step procedure of aza-Michael addition,hydrolysis,Friedel-Crafts acylation,N-alkylation,Mannich reaction,amino exchange and hydrolysis.The structures of the target compounds were confirmed by ∼1H-NMR,ESI-MS and IR.The in vitro enzyme inhibitory assays were performed with epalrestat as a pos. referenceThe results showed that most of them had good AR inhibitory activity.The structure-activity relationship anal. indicated R∼1=OCH_3 and R∼2=2′,4′-Cl will benefit for the AR inhibitory activity,and compound 8 o displayed the highest AR inhibitory activity with an IC_(50) value of 0.33 μmol·L∼(-1).♂