Synthesis, characterization and biological screening of sulfonamides derived form 2-phenylethylamine

In the present study, a series of N-substituted derivatives of 2-phenylethylamine has been synthesized. The reaction of 2-phenylethylamine (1) with benzene sulfonyl chloride (2) yielded N-(2-phenylethyl) benzenesulfonamide (3), which further on treatment with alkyl/acyl halides (4a-i) in the presence of sodium hydride furnished into N-substituted sulfonamides (5a-i). These derivatives were characterized by IR, (1)H-NMR and EI-MS and then screened against acetyl cholinesterase (AChE), butyryl cholinesterase (BChE) and lipoxygenase enzyme (LOX) and were found to be potent inhibitors of butyryl cholinesterase only.