Synthesis and anticonvulsant activity of new N-Mannich bases derived from 5-cyclopropyl-5-phenyl- and 5-cyclopropyl-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-imidazolidine-2,4-diones.

Synthesis, physicochemical and anticonvulsant properties of new N-Mannich bases derived from 5-cyclopropyl-5-phenyl- and 5-cyclopropyl-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-imidazolidine-2,4-diones have been described. Initial anticonvulsant screening was performed using intraperitoneal (ip.) maximal electroshock (MES) and subcutaneous pentylenetetrazole (scPTZ) seizure tests. The neurotoxicity was determined applying the rotarod test. The in vivo results in mice showed that all compounds were effective especially in the MES screen. The quantitative evaluation after oral administration in rats showed that the most active was 5-cyclopropyl-5-phenyl-imidazolidine-2,4-dione (1) with ED(50) values of 5.76 mg/kg (MES) and 57.31 mg/kg (scPTZ). This molecule was more potent than phenytoin and ethosuximide which were used as reference antiepileptic drugs. Additionally compound 1 with ED(50) of 26.06 mg/kg in psychomotor seizure test (6-Hz) in mice showed comparable activity to new generation anticonvulsant - levetiracetam.