ABSTRACT
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, and 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