Abstract A series of N1,N2-bis [(2-substitutedphenyl)ethyl]phthalamide (compounds 1-10) and 3-nitro-N1, N2-bis [(2-substitutedphenyl)ethyl]phthalamide (compounds 11-20) were synthesized. Their structures and purity were analyzed by IR, 1H-NMR spectra and elemental analysis. The compounds were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxicity against the MCF7 and Hep3B cancer cell lines. Cytotoxicity screening revealed that N1,N2-bis[2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)ethyl]phthalamide (compound 5), 3-nitro-N1,N2-bis[2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl) ethyl]phthalamide (compound 15) and 3-nitro-N1,N2-bis[2-(2-fluorophenyl)ethyl]phthalamide (compound 16) had the highest activity. The synthesized compounds were also screened for their antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Among the compounds,N, N’-bis[2-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]phthalamide (compound 4), 3-Nitro-N,N’-bis[2-(2-chlorophenyl) ethyl]phthalamide (compound 12), 3-Nitro-N,N’-bis[2-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl] phthalamide (compound 14), and 3-Nitro-N,N’-bis[2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)ethyl]phthalamide (compound 15) exhibited good activity. The prediction of drug-likeness, molecular and ADME properties of the compounds were also examined during the study
Keywords Phthalamide, Phenylethylamine, Antimicrobial, Anticancer, Cytotoxicity, Insecticide.