Seventeen 2-aryl-3-haloallylamine derivatives were prepared and evaluated as inhibitors of monoamine oxidase (MAO, EC 1.4.3.4). The synthesis of these compounds was achieved from either alpha-methylstyrene or ring-substituted phenylacetic acid derivatives. With one exception, these 2-arylallylamines were found to be enzyme-activated, irreversible inhibitors of MAO. The most potent inhibitors were ring-substituted derivatives of (E)-2-phenyl-3-fluoroallylamine with IC50 values ranging from 10(-6) to 10(-8) M. Selectivity for the A and B form of MAO was found to depend on the nature of aromatic ring substitution. In general, hydroxyl substitution favored the inactivation of the A form of MAO, while very selective B inhibitors were obtained when the aromatic ring was substituted with a 4-methoxy group. (E)-2-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-3-fluoroallylamine and (E)-2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-3-fluoroallylamine proved to be in vitro as selective for the B form of MAO as deprenyl.