Discovery of carbamate-based salicylic acid derivatives as novel cholinesterase inhibitor

•20 novel salicylic acid carbamate derivatives were synthesized for the systematical structure-activity relationship studies.•Compounds 3l and 3t are potentially the best dual inhibitors of AChE and BChE.•Molecular docking studies were performed with 3l and 3t compounds.•Compounds 3l and 3t present neuroprotective activity.