New derivatives of benzylamide with anticonvulsant activity.

Previously obtained picolinic acid benzylamide is a potent anticonvulsant with low neurotoxicity. In search for new effective anticonvulsants twelve new benzylamides (1-12) were synthesized and preliminary evaluated in the Anticonvulsant Screening Program (ASP) of Antiepileptic Drug Development Program (ADDP) of NIH. Two of them appeared the most promising: 1-cyclopentenecarboxylic acid benzylamide (1-Cpc-BZA) (9) showed MES ED50 = 85,36 mg/kg (PI = 2,49), scPTZ ED50 = 1,37 mg/kg (PI = 1,37), 6Hz-EST ED50 = 50,29 mg/kg and cyclopentanecarboxylic acid benzylamide (Cpc-BZA) (11) showed pilocarpine ED50 = 154.75 mg/kg and pilocarpine ED97 = 270.95 mg/kg.