Abstract The one-pot synthesis of nine 5H-indeno [1, 2-c] pyridazines is described. These compounds are shown to be potent, reversible inhibitors of monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) with little or no effect on monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A). Qualitative structure-activity relations indicate that the MAO-B inhibitory activity is strongly influenced by electronic and bulk properties of substitutents.