N-Acyl-4-phenylthiazole-2-amines were designed and synthesized, moreover their effects on acetylcholinesterase activities were tested. N-Acyl-4-phenylthiazole-2-amines were prepared from substituted 2-bromo-1-acetophenones by three steps reaction, and their AChE inhibitory activities were measured by Ellman method in vitro. The results showed that the target compounds had a certain inhibitory activity on AChE in vitro. Among them, 8c was the best, and IC50 of 8c was 0.51 micromol x L(-1), better than that of rivastigmine and Huperzine-A. The inhibitory activities of N-acyl-4-phenylthiazole-2-amines on acetylcholinesterase are worth while to be further studied.