N,N-Dimethyl-2-chloro-2-phenylethylamine(DMEA) is chemical compound that irreversibly inhibits the
acetylcholinesterase. DMEA can cause intoxication in cats, resulting from respiratory failure to death, and progressive damage to the central nervous system in rats.[1] Synthesis of DMEA can be obtained by treating N,N-dimethyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethylamine with
thionyl chloride (SOCl2).[2] This compound, when dissolved water, decomposes into a highly reactive
aziridinium ion, N,N-dimethyl-2-phenylaziridinium (DPA). DPA binds to the anionic site of acetylcholinesterase, where it alkylates and
irreversibly inhibits the enzyme.[3][2] DMEA was also compared to N, N-dimethyl, 2-chloro-2-phenyl-1-methylethyl-amine (M-DMEA) and the results show that there is a difference between the degree of adrenergic blocking activity and their immonium ring stability in vitro. [4]