Anticonvulsant properties of various acetylhydrazones, oxamoylhydrazones and semicarbazones derived from aromatic and unsaturated carbonyl compounds

Various acetylhydrazones, oxamoylhydrazones and semicarbazones were prepare d as candidate anticonvulsants with a view to examining the viability of a putative binding site hypothesis. Atomic charge calculations were undertake n to determine the hydrogen bonding capacities of various molecules. The bi ological results obtained revealed that in general the acetylhydrazones and semicarbazones afforded good protection against convulsions while the oxam oylhydrazones were significantly less active. These data suggest that termi nal electron-donating groups enhanced the hydrogen bonding capabilities and anticonvulsant properties of these molecules. (C) 2000 Editions scientifiq ues et medicales Elsevier SAS.