Fluorinated phenytoin anticonvulsant analogs.

Six ring-fluorinated phenytoin analogs were synthesized, and their anticonvulsant activity in the maximal electroshock seizure and subcutaneous pentylenetetrazol assays was determined. 5-(4-Fluorophenyl)-5-phenylhydantoin, 5-(3-fluorophenyl)-5-phenylhydantoin, and 5,5-bis(4-fluorophenyl)hydantoin were active in the maximal electroshock seizure assay. The compounds were much less potent than phenytoin but showed an extremely long duration of action.