A series of beta-acetamido carbonyl compounds (S(1)-S(7)) were prepared using Dakin-West reaction from different substituted aldehyde and acetophenone in the presence of lanthanum triflate as a solid catalyst. All the compounds were tested for their alpha-glucosidase inhibitory potential against rat intestinal alpha-glucosidase. The most potent rat intestinal alpha-glucosidase inhibitors S(5) and S(7) were tested for their antihyperglycemic activity following carbohydrate tolerance test. Both the compounds displayed antihyperglycemic activity equivalent to the standard drug acarbose.