Microwave-assisted synthesis of 11-substituted-3,3-dimethyl-2,3,4,5,10,11-hexahydrodibenzo[b,e][1,4]diazepin-1-one derivatives catalysed by silica supported fluoroboric acid as potent antioxidant and anxiolytic agents

Keeping in view the successive attributes of benzodiazepines on the central nervous system, we have synthesized a novel series of benzodiazepine derivatives as antioxidant and anxiolytic agents. All the compounds were obtained in good yield by facile synthesis. To check their antioxidant potential, DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging assay was performed. Among all the synthetics seven derivatives ( SD-3 , SD-5 , SD-7 , SD-14 , SD-18 , SD-19 , and SD-20 ) exhibited IC 50 values ranging from 76 to 489 nM. These seven compounds were further evaluated to check their binding abilities towards the benzodiazepine binding site on GABA A receptors. Three best-fit ligands ( SD-3 , SD-14 and SD-20 ) were further evaluated for their anxiolytic effect by using three in vivo mice models i.e. Elevated Plus Maze, Light & Dark box, and Mirror Chamber model. The study revealed that compounds SD-3 and SD-20 showed the best anxiolytic effect as compared to standard drug diazepam even at an oral dose of 1.0 mg/kg.