Design, synthesis, in vitro and in vivo evaluation of novel pyrrolizine-based compounds with potential activity as cholinesterase inhibitors and anti-Alzheimer's agents.

•New pyrrolizine derivatives were synthesized as potential anti-Alzheimer's agents.•Compounds 10 and 11 had the highest AChE inhibitory activity.•Target compounds represented a new class of amyloid-beta aggregation inhibitors.•Compounds 10 and 11 improved scopolamine induced cognitive deficits in vivo.•Docking of the most active compounds at AChE active was done.