Imidazenil

Imidazenil[1] is an experimental anxiolytic drug which is derived from the benzodiazepine family, and is most closely related to other imidazobenzodiazepines such as midazolam, flumazenil, and bretazenil.

Imidazenil

Clinical data
ATC code	none
Legal status
Legal status	CA: Schedule IV
Identifiers
IUPAC name 6-(2-Bromophenyl)-8-fluoro-4H-imidazo[1,5-a][1,4]benzodiazepine-3-carboxamide
CAS Number	151271-08-8^Y
PubChem CID	119194
ChemSpider	106482^Y
UNII	7N95V6864R
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID90164746
Chemical and physical data
Formula	C18H12BrFN4O
Molar mass	399.223 g·mol^−1
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
SMILES Brc4ccccc4C/2=N/Cc1c(ncn1c3c\2cc(F)cc3)C(=O)N
InChI InChI=1S/C18H12BrFN4O/c19-13-4-2-1-3-11(13)16-12-7-10(20)5-6-14(12)24-9-23-17(18(21)25)15(24)8-22-16/h1-7,9H,8H2,(H2,21,25)^Y Key:OCJHYHKWUWSHEN-UHFFFAOYSA-N^Y
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Imidazenil is a highly potent benzodiazepine receptor partial agonist[2] with an unusual profile of effects, producing some of the effects associated with normal benzodiazepines such as anticonvulsant and anxiolytic effects, yet without any notable sedative or amnestic[3] effects. In fact, imidazenil blocks the sedative effects of diazepam, yet without lowering the convulsion threshold,[4] and so potentially could be a more flexible antidote than the antagonist flumazenil which is commonly used to treat benzodiazepine overdose at present.

Imidazenil has not yet been developed commercially for use in humans, however it has been suggested as a safe and effective treatment for anxiety,[5] a potent yet non-sedating anticonvulsant which might be particularly useful in the treatment of poisoning with organophosphate nerve agents,[6][7] and as a novel treatment for schizophrenia.[8]

See also

• Flumazenil
• Bretazenil
• GL-II-73
• Midazolam

References

1. US 5317018
2. Thompson DM, Auta J, Guidotti A, Costa E (June 1995). "Imidazenil, a new anxiolytic and anticonvulsant drug, attenuates a benzodiazepine-induced cognition deficit in monkeys". The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. 273 (3): 1307–12. PMID 7791102.
3. Auta J, Faust WB, Lambert P, Guidotti A, Costa E, Moerschbaecher JM (June 1995). "Comparison of the effects of full and partial allosteric modulators of GABA(A) receptors on complex behavioral processes in monkeys". Behavioural Pharmacology. 6 (4): 323–332. doi:10.1097/00008877-199506000-00003. PMID 11224341.
4. Auta J, Costa E, Davis JM, Guidotti A (September 2005). "Imidazenil: an antagonist of the sedative but not the anticonvulsant action of diazepam". Neuropharmacology. 49 (3): 425–9. doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2005.04.005. PMID 15964602.
5. Atack JR (August 2003). "Anxioselective compounds acting at the GABA(A) receptor benzodiazepine binding site". Current Drug Targets. CNS and Neurological Disorders. 2 (4): 213–32. doi:10.2174/1568007033482841. PMID 12871032.
6. Rump S, Gidynska T, Galecka E, Antkowiak O, Nawrocka M, Kowalczyk M (2000). "Effects of imidazenil, a new benzodiazepine receptor partial agonist, in the treatment of convulsions in organophosphate intoxications". Neurotoxicity Research. 2 (1): 17–22. doi:10.1007/bf03033323. PMID 15545002.
7. Auta J, Costa E, Davis J, Guidotti A (March 2004). "Imidazenil: a potent and safe protective agent against diisopropyl fluorophosphate toxicity". Neuropharmacology. 46 (3): 397–403. doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2003.09.010. PMID 14975695.
8. Guidotti A, Auta J, Davis JM, Dong E, Grayson DR, Veldic M, et al. (July 2005). "GABAergic dysfunction in schizophrenia: new treatment strategies on the horizon". Psychopharmacology. 180 (2): 191–205. doi:10.1007/s00213-005-2212-8. PMID 15864560.