Ocinaplon
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Ocinaplon is an anxiolytic drug in the pyrazolopyrimidine family of drugs. Other pyrazolopyrimidine drugs include zaleplon and indiplon.
Ocinaplon has a similar pharmacological profile to the
Medical uses
A 2019 review found tentative evidence of benefit in anxiety.[2]
Mechanism of action
The mechanism of action by which ocinaplon produces its anxiolytic effects is by modulating GABAA receptors,[3] although ocinaplon is more subtype-selective than most benzodiazepines.[4]
Availability
Development of ocinaplon is discontinued due to liver complications that occurred in one of the Phase III subjects.[5]
Synthesis

Condensation of 4-Acetylpyridine[8] with N,N-Dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal (DMFDMA) gives the "enamide" (3). This is then condensed with (3-Amino-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)(2-pyridinyl)methanone (4) (96219-90-8).[9][10] This is the same intermediate as was used in the synthesis of zaleplon in which the nitrile is replaced by a 2-acetylpyridil moiety. This affords the anxiolytic agent ocinaplon (5).
References
- PMID 15870187.
- S2CID 72332967.
- S2CID 21913400.
- S2CID 22793644.
- ^ "DOV Pharmaceutical, Inc. Places Ocinaplon Phase III Clinical Trial On Hold". PR NewsWire. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
- PMID 24204439.
- ^ ARKIVOC 2010 (ii) 267-282
- .
- ^ U.S. patent 4,900,836
- ^ CA 1243029