Synthesis and anticonvulsant activity of new n-mannich bases derived from 5-cyclopropyl-5-phenyl-hydantoins

Synthesis, physicochemical and anticonvulsant properties of new N‐Mannich bases 3–24 derived from 5‐cyclopropyl‐5‐phenyl‐ and 5‐cyclopropyl‐5‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐hydantoins were described here. Initial anticonvulsant screening was performed using intraperitoneal (i.p.) maximal electroshock (MES) and subcutaneous pentylenetetrazole (scPTZ) seizures tests. Selected derivatives were also screened in the 6‐Hz test. The neurotoxicity was determined applying the rotorod test. The pharmacological results revealed that the majority of compounds were effective in MES and/or scPTZ tests. The quantitative studies after oral administration into rats showed that several molecules were more potent than phenytoin and ethosuximide which were used as reference antiepileptic drugs. From the whole series the most active was 3‐(4‐phenylpiperazin‐1‐yl)‐methyl]‐5‐cyclopropyl‐5‐phenyl‐imidazolidine‐2,4‐dione ( 3 ) with the ED₅₀ value of 5.29 mg/kg in the MES test.