The structural and electronic characteristics as well as the anticonvu
lsant properties and benzodiazepine receptor binding of thieno[3,4-b][
1,4]diazepine and 1,5-benzodiazepine derivatives are compared and disc
ussed. The data obtained suggest that the electronic rather than the s
tructural properties appear mainly responsible for the variant degree
of anticonvulsant activity exhibited by the tested compounds.