Synthesis and antidepressant activity of 5-(4-dimethylaminobenzyl)imidazolidine-2,4-dione.

5-(4-Dimethylaminobenzyl)imidazolidine-2,4-dione was prepared by catalytic hydrogenation of the corresponding benzylidene compound. Antidepressant testing in mice indicated that its ED50 values for antagonism of tetrabenazine-induced ptosis and potentiation of levodopa-induced behavioral changes were 42 and 17 mg/kg po, respectively. In vitro neurochemical studies demonstrated that this compound did not inhibit the uptake of selected biogenic amines into crude synaptosomes of mouse whole brain, and it did not have significant monoamine oxidase inhibitory activity in vivo and vitro. Thus, this compound possesses potential antidepressant activity with a mechanism different from that of the tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors.