Synthesis and neurotropic properties of arylidene-1,2-dihydro-3H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-ones

The neurotropic properties (antidepressant, sedative, anticonvulsant) of new 3-arylidene derivatives of 1,2-dihydro-3H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one were studied. A number of the study compounds were found to have high levels of antidepressant activity and the nature and position of the substituents in the phenyl radical and the arylidene fragment of the molecule were found to have significant influences on their antidepressant properties.