A substructure similarity search against the SPECS database and chemical synthesis methods were performed to obtain a series of pyrazolidine-3,5-dione derivatives. Through the enzyme-based assay against c-Met kinase, 4 compounds (1c, 1e, 1m and 1o) showed potential inhibitory activity, with IC50 values mostly less than 10 μM. Based on the structure–activity relationship (SAR) and binding mode analysis