Abstract:In this study a series of twelve n-alkoxy-substituted 2-hydroxynaphthalene-1-carboxanilides was prepared and characterized. The discussed compounds were prepared by microwave-assisted synthesis. The compounds were tested for their activity related to inhibition of photosynthetic electron transport (PET) in spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) chloroplasts. The highest PET inhibition was observed for meta-substituted compounds, whereas 2-hydroxy-N-(3-propoxyphenyl)naphthalene-1-carboxamide showed the highest PET inhibition within the whole series. In spite of medium or moderate PET-inhibiting activity it was found that the compounds inhibit PET in photosystem II. The activity of all positional isomers is strongly influenced by lipophilicity and the length/bulkiness of the alkoxy chain.