A series of novel (4-piperidin-1-yl)-phenyl sulfonamides was prepared and evaluated for their biological activity on the human beta(3)-adrenergic receptor (AR). Replacement of the 3,4-dihydroxyl group of the catechol moiety with 4-hydroxyl-3-methyl sulfonamide on the left-hand side of the compounds resulted in a number of potent full agonists at the beta(3) receptor. Modification of the right-hand side of the compounds by incorporation of a free carboxylic acid resulted in a few potent human beta(3) agonists with low affinities for beta(1)- and beta(2)-ARs. N-Alkyl substitution on the 4-piperidin-1-yl-phenylamine further increased the beta(3) potency while maintaining the selectivity. For example, sulfonamide 48 is a potent full beta(3) agonist (EC(50)=0.004 microM, IA=1.0) with > 500-fold selectivity over beta(1)- and beta(2)-ARs.