Structure Activity Relationship of Organic Alcohol and Esters for Antidepressant- Like Activity

The synthesized compounds 1-7 were evaluated for their antidepressant activity, among which 2-phenylethyl alcohol 1 and isoamyl phenylacetate 3 showed 43 % and 37 % reduction in immobility time in mice using forced swim test, thereby, displaying antidepressant- like activity. Compound 1 and 3 were equipotent and both these compounds were 2x effective than the standard drug phenelzine. Considering other esters it appears that a decrease in alkyl chain length or addition of either NO2 or OH groups to the phenyl ring caused a marked decline in the antidepressant-like activity.