of quinoxalinone‐based aldose reductase inhibitors were synthesized successfully. Most of the inhibitors, with an N1‐acetic acid head group and a substituted C3‐phenoxy side chain, proved to be potent and selective. Their IC50 values ranged from 11.4 to 74.8 nM. Among them, 2‐(3‐(4‐bromophenoxy)‐7‐fluoro‐2‐oxoquinoxalin‐1(2H)‐yl)acetic acid and 2‐(6‐bromo‐3‐(4‐bromophenoxy)‐2‐oxoquinoxalin‐1(2H)‐yl)acetic