ABSTRACT
A number of acetanilide derivatives including 2-, 3-, 4- nitro and 4- chloroacetanilide were prepared by refluxing acetic anhydride in presence of glacial acetic acid and zinc with the corresponding aniline derivative. 4-chloro-chloroacetanilide and 3, 5-dinitroacetanilide were synthesized by direct chlorination or nitration of the corresponding anilide, respectively. The compounds were identified by elementary analysis and spectral studies. These compounds have been tested for their molluscicidal activities against fresh water snails [Australorbis glabratus] and some of them have been evaluated for their toxicities against albino rats. 4-chlorochloroacet-anilide was the most promising compound due to its potent molluscicidal activity and low mammalian toxicity