New anticonvulsants: Schiff bases of gamma-aminobutyric acid and gamma-aminobutyramide.

Schiff bases of gamma-aminobutyric acid (gammaAbu) and gamma-aminobutyramide (gammaAbuNH2) were prepared and tested for anticonvulsant and gammaAbu mimetic activity. 4-[[(4-Chlorophenyl)(5-fluoro-2-hydroxyphenyl)methylene]amino]butanoic acid monosodium salt (4) and 4-[[(4-chlorophenyl)(5-fluoro-2-hydroxyphenyl)methylene]amino]butanamide (5) blocked bicuculline-induced lethality and convulsions and displaced [3H]gammaAbu from its membrane binding sites. In the rat dorsal root sensory ganglion, compound 4 exhibited gammaAbu agonist properties. Compounds 4 and 5 are thus anticonvulsants and directly acting gammaAbu mimetics.