P. Yogeeswari et al. / European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 39 (2004) 729–734
733
rected. Infrared (IR) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance
(1H-NMR) spectra were recorded for the compounds on
Jasco IR Report 100 (KBr) and Brucker Avance (300 MHz)
instruments, respectively. Chemical shifts are reported in
parts per million (ppm) using tetramethyl silane (TMS) as an
internal standard. All exchangeable protons were confirmed
by addition of D2O. Elemental analyses (C, H, and N) were
undertaken with Perkin-Elmer model 240C analyzer. The
homogeneity of the compounds was monitored by ascending
thin layer chromatography (TLC) on silicagel-G (Merck)
coated aluminium plates, visualized by iodine vapor. Devel-
oping solvents were chloroform–methanol (9:1). The log P
values were determined using Alchemy-2000 and Scilog P
softwares (Tripos Co.).
5 (DMSO-d6): 2.28 (s, 3H, ArCH3), 6.81–7.8 (m, 7H,
ArH), 8.25 (s, 1H, imine H), 8.67 (s, 1H, ArNH, D2O ex-
changeable), 10.71 (s, 1H, CONH, D2O exchangeable),
10.06 (s, 1H,ArOH, D2O exchangeable); 8 (DMSO-d6): 2.35
(s, 3H, ArCH3), 7.20–8.31 (m, 7H, ArH), 8.10 (s, 1H, imine
H), 9.01 (s, 1H, ArNH, D2O exchangeable), 11.19 (s, 1H,
CONH, D2O exchangeable); 15 (DMSO-d6): 2.18 (s, 3H,
CH3), 2.30 (s, 3H, ArCH3), 6.74–7.78 (m, 7H, ArH), 8.62 (s,
1H, ArNH, D2O exchangeable), 10.01 (s, 1H, ArOH, D2O
exchangeable), 10.64 (s, 1H, CONH, D2O exchangeable); 19
(DMSO-d6): 2.24 (s, 3H, CH3), 2.37 (s, 3H, ArCH3), 7.24–
8.41 (m, 7H, ArH), 8.98 (s, 1H, ArNH, D2O exchangeable),
11.05 (s, 1H, CONH, D2O exchangeable); 21 (DMSO-d6):
2.21 (s, 6H, CH3), 2.34 (s, 3H, ArCH3), 7.12–7.30 (m, 3H,
ArH), 8.58 (s, 1H, ArNH, D2O exchangeable), 10.54 (s, 1H,
CONH, D2O exchangeable); 24 (DMSO-d6): 1.32–1.36 (t,
3H, CH3, J = 7.6 Hz), 1.82–1.88 (q, 2H, CH2, J = 7.6 Hz),
2.20 (s, 3H, CH3), 2.32 (s, 3H, ArCH3), 7.08–7.24 (m, 3H,
ArH), 8.62 (s, 1H, ArNH, D2O exchangeable), 10.61(s, 1H,
CONH, D2O exchangeable); 30 (DMSO-d6): 2.30 (s, 3H,
ArCH3), 6.94–8.28 (m, 6H, ArH), 9.32 (s, 1H, ArNH, D2O
exchangeable), 10.88 (s, 1H, NH isatinyl, D2O exchange-
able), 10.92 (s, 1H, CONH, D2O exchangeable); 31 (DMSO-
d6): 2.31 (s, 3H, ArCH3), 6.88–8.14 (m, 6H, ArH), 8.74 (s,
1H, ArNH, D2O exchangeable), 10.82 (s, 1H, NH isatinyl,
D2O exchangeable), 10.90 (s, 1H, CONH, D2O exchange-
able).
5.1.1. Synthesis of 3-chloro-2-methyl phenyl urea (1)
3-Chloro-2-methyl aniline (0.1 mol, 14.1 g, 11.8 ml) was
dissolved in 20 ml of glacial acetic acid and 10 ml of water.
To this, 0.1 mol of sodium cyanate (6.5 g) in 80 ml of warm
water was added with stirring. Allowed to stand for 30 min,
then cooled in ice and filtered with suction, and dried. Re-
crystallized from boiling water to yield 1 with m.p. 201 °C,
IR (KBr) mmax 3450, 1650, 840 cm–1, 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6) d
2.4 (s, 3H, CH3), 7.2–7.4 (m, 3H, ArH) 8.28 (s, 1H, ArNH,
D2O exchangeable), 9.33 (s, 2H, CONH2, D2O exchange-
able).
5.1.2. Synthesis of 3-chloro-2-methyl phenyl semicarbazide
(2) hydrochloride
5.2. Pharmacology
Equimolar quantities (0.05 mol) of 1 (9.2 g) and hydrazine
hydrate (2.5 ml) in ethanol were refluxed for 24 h with
stirring. The two-third volume of alcohol was distilled by
vacuum distillation unit and then poured into ice. The result-
ant precipitate was filtered, washed with water and dried. The
solid was recrystallized from 50 ml of 90% alcohol to which
25 ml of concentrated hydrochloric acid was added. The
precipitate of 2, hydrochloride, was filtered by vacuum and
dried. IR (KBr) mmax 3450, 3269, 1640, 840 cm–1; 1H-NMR
(CDCl3) d 2.33 (s, 3H, CH3), 5.56 (s, 2H, NH2, D2O ex-
changeable), 7.2–7.45 (m, 3H,ArH), 8.34 (s, 1H,ArNH, D2O
exchangeable), 9.6 (bs, 1H, NHNH2, D2O exchangeable).
The anticonvulsant evaluations were undertaken using
reported procedures [26–28]. Male albino mice (CF-1 strain
or Swiss, 18–25 g) and rats (Sprague–Dawley or Wistar,
100–150 g) were used as experimental animals. The tested
compounds were suspended in 0.5% methyl cellulose/water
mixture or in polyethylene glycol (PEG).
5.2.1. Anticonvulsant screening
Initially all the compounds were administered i.p. in a
volume of 0.01 ml/g body weight for mice and 0.004 ml/g
body weight for rats at doses of 30, 100 and 300 mg/kg to one
to four animals. Activity was established using the MES,
scPTZ and scSTY tests and these data are presented in
Table 2. Some selected derivatives described in this study
were examined for oral activity in the MES screen. The
5.1.3. General method for the synthesis
of 3-chloro-2-methyl phenyl semicarbazones (3–33)
The title compounds were synthesized following proce-
dures reported earlier [7]. To a solution of 2 (0.005 mol,
1.175 g) in 25 ml of water was added sodium acetate
(0.005 mol, 0.41 g) in 2 ml water.About 25 ml of ethanol was
added to clear turbidity. This solution mixture was added to
an equimolar quantity of the appropriate aldehyde or ketone
in alcohol. Stirring was done if needed. Immediate precipita-
tion occurred and the solids were filtered, dried and recrys-
tallized from hot ethanol. The physical data of the semicar-
bazones are given in Table 1. The IR spectra of the
semicarbazone derivatives were identical in the following
aspects; 3450, 3300–3250, 1650, 1595, 840 cm–1. 1H-NMR
(300 MHz, d) spectra of some representative compounds are
as follows:
5.2.2. Neurotoxicity screening
Minimal motor impairment was measured in mice by the
rotorod test. The mice were trained to stay on an accelerating
rotorod that rotates at six revolutions per minute. The rod
diameter was 3.2 cm. Neurotoxicity was indicated by the
inability of the animal to maintain equilibrium on the rod for
at least 1 min in each of the three trials.
5.2.3. Behavioral testing
The titled compounds (30 mg/kg) were screened for their
behavioral effects using actophotometer [29] at 30 min and