6,3′-Dinitroflavone, a Novel High Affinity Ligand for the Benzodiazepine Receptor with Potent Anxiolytic Properties.

Abstract 6,3'-Dinitroflavone (2) and 6,4'-dinitroflavone (3), prepared by direct nitration of flavone (1), were found to be ligands for the benzodiazepine receptor (BDZ-R). Compound 2, with a K i = 12 nM, produced potent anxiolytic effects in mice at a dose of 1 μg/Kg.