Syntheses and evaluation of anticonvulsant activity of novel branched alkyl carbamates

J Med Chem. 2012 Mar 22;55(6):2835-45. doi: 10.1021/jm201751x. Epub 2012 Mar 7.

Abstract

A novel class of 19 carbamates was synthesized, and their anticonvulsant activity was comparatively evaluated in the rat maximal electroshock (MES) and subcutaneous metrazol (scMet) seizure tests and pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus (SE) model. In spite of the alkyl-carbamates' close structural features, only compounds 34, 38, and 40 were active at the MES test. The analogues 2-ethyl-3-methyl-butyl-carbamate (34) and 2-ethyl-3-methyl-pentyl-carbamate (38) also exhibited potent activity in the pilocarpine-SE model 30 min postseizure onset. Extending the aliphatic side chains of homologous carbamates from 7 to 8 (34 to 35) and from 8 to 9 carbons in the homologues 38 and 43 decreased the activity in the pilocarpine-SE model from ED(50) = 81 mg/kg (34) to 94 mg/kg (35) and from 96 mg/kg (38) to 114 mg/kg (43), respectively. The most potent carbamate, phenyl-ethyl-carbamate (47) (MES ED(50) = 16 mg/kg) contains an aromatic moiety in its structure. Compounds 34, 38, 40, and 47 offer the optimal efficacy-safety profile and, consequently, are promising candidates for development as new antiepileptics.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anticonvulsants / chemical synthesis*
  • Anticonvulsants / pharmacology
  • Anticonvulsants / toxicity
  • Carbamates / chemical synthesis*
  • Carbamates / pharmacology
  • Carbamates / toxicity
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Neurotoxicity Syndromes / etiology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Seizures / drug therapy
  • Status Epilepticus / drug therapy
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants
  • Carbamates