SYNTHETIC ANTICONVULSANTS

5,5-DISUBSTITUTED HYDANTOINS CONTAINING A HETERO-ATOM IN THE SIDE CHAIN

¹ From the Department of Neurology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University; The Monteflore Hospital and the Neurological Institute, New York, and the Research Laboratories of Parke, Davis and Company

A series of sixty-two 5,5-disubstituted hydantoins containing oxygen and sulfur in one alkyl side-chain, have been tested for anticonvulsant activity in the cat. The 5-phenyl-5-alkoxymethyl- and 5-phenyl-5-alkylthiomethylhydantoins possess pronounced anticonvulsant activity. Two derivatives 5-phenyl-5-n-propoxymethyl- and 5-phenyl-5-iso-propoxymethylhydantoins were studied chronically in cats. The latter derivative affords full protection against electrically induced convulsions in doses of 33-37 mg./kg. in acute experiments and gives a lasting and consistent rise in the convulsive threshold in chronic tests. This compound is therefore recommended for clinical trial.