The significance of the imidazole ring in anticonvulsant activity of (arylalkyl)imidazoles

The imidazole ring in nafimidone [1-(2-naphthyl)-2-(1-imidazolyl)ethanone] was substituted with various groups to investigate the significance of the imidazole ring in anticonvulsant activity. For this purpose, some 2-acetylnaphthalene derivatives and their reduction products were synthesized. Several N-alkylation methods were used to prepare 2-acetylnaphthalenes. NaBH₄ was used to synthesize their reduction products. Anticonvulsant activities of these compounds were determined by phase I tests of Antiepileptic Drug Development Programme.