Synthesis and Evaluation of the Anxiolytic Activity of Some Phthalimide Derivatives in Mice Model of Anxiety

The aim of the present study was to synthesis a series of phthalimides based on our previous works and examine their anxiolytic properties. using a three steps process, phthalimides were prepared from the corresponding di-methyl phthalate derivatives. phthalic anhydride was nitrated to produce 3-nitrophthalic acid. ring closer of either 3-nitrophthalic acid or di-methyl phthalate with urea were carried out in reflux condition. final compounds were prepared by base catalyzed condensation of 4-methylbenzoyl chloride, benzoyl chloride and benzyl chloride with the resulting imides. from the tested compounds, only n-benzoyl 3-nitro-phthalimide was shown to produce anxiolytic activity by increasing the number of entries and time spent in open arms at 10 mg/kg