Monoamine oxidase inhibitory and anticonvulsant studies of substituted 1,4-benzodiazepines

Sixteen new 2,3-dihydro-N-(substituted phenyl)-spiro (benzo [b] cyclopenta [e][1,4] diazepine-10(1H), 1'-cyclopentane)-9(10aH)-ethanamines, whose structures were confirmed by correct elemental analyses, IR, NMR and mass spectral studies, were synthesized and evaluated for anticonvulsant and analgesic activity in vivo and monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitory activities in vitro. The compounds exhibiting significant anticonvulsant and analgesic activity also showed marked inhibition of the enzyme MAO. The low toxicity of these compounds was reflected by their high approximate LD50 values.