Ureylene anticonvulsants and related compounds

The results from a previous study led to the postulate that a number of aryl semicarbazones displaying anticonvulsant activity in the maximal electroshock (MES) screen interacted at both a hydrophobic and a hydrogen bonding areas on a specific binding site. These two parts of the binding site may be referred to as areas A and B, respectively. In order to circumvent the possible problems of the carbimino group in semicarbazones, such as toxicity and acid lability, some related ureylenes were considered. Initial evidence suggested that a second lipophilic group in the molecule was advantageous; this group may interact at area C on the proposed binding site. Most of the compounds prepared with a view to interacting at areas A, B and C showed protection in mice against MES induced seizures. Of particular interest were the compounds 1d, j which contained an alpha-methylbenzyl group attached to the N1 atom of the ureylenes which afforded good protection in the MES screen. The areas A and C at which lipophilic moieties were considered to interact were capable of accommodating groups of different sizes as measured by their solvent accessible surface areas. A number of compounds were active when given orally to rats and devoid of neurotoxicity at the doses utilized. Several compounds including 1d, f, j, 2d are useful prototypic molecules for subsequent development of further novel anticonvulsants.