design, synthesis and anticonvulsant activity of 2-(2-phenoxy) phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives

benzodiazepines are useful drugs for treatment of sleep disorders, anxiety, seizure cases and skeletal muscle cramps. some derivatives of 2-(2-phenoxy) phenyl-1, 3, 4-oxadiazole were synthesized as benzodiazepine receptor agonists. conformational analysis and superimposition of energy minima conformers of the compounds on estazolam, a known benzodiazepine agonist, reveal that the main proposed benzodiazepine pharmacophores were well matched. anticonvulsant activity of the synthesized compounds, determined by pentylenetetrazole-induced lethal convulsion test, showed that the introduction of an amino substituent in position 5 of 1,3,4- oxadiazole ring generates compound 9 which has a respectable effect. the results are in agreement with sar of benzodiazepine receptor ligands since the elimination of electronegative substituent in position 2 of phenoxy ring or position 4 of phenyl ring reduces the anticonvulsant activity.