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Eleven oxazolone derivatives were synthesized and characterized by 1H NMR, EI, IR and UV spectroscopic and CHN analysis. Three compounds, 4-[(E)-(4-nitrophenyl)methylidene]-2-phenyl-1,3-oxazol-5(4H)-one (11), 4-[(E)-(4-methoxyphenyl)methylidene]-2-methyl-1,3-oxazol-5-one (12) and 4-[(E)-(4-nitrophenyl)methylidene]-2-methyl-1,3-oxazol-5(4H)-one (13) were screened for phagocyte chemiluminescence, neutrophil chemotaxis, T-cell proliferation, cytokine production from mononuclear cells and cytotoxicity. 4-[(E)-(4-Nitrophenyl)methylidene]-2-methyl-1,3-oxazol-5(4H)-one (13) was found to be the most potent immunomodulator in the series.

To evaluate the effect of substituents on biological activities of electron-rich N-containing heterocycles, the variably 2-substituted 5,6-dihydro-5-oxo-4H-1,3,4-oxadiazine-4-propanenitriles 26–33 were synthesized and evaluated for antibacterial, antifungal, and enzyme-inhibition activities. The target compounds were obtained from alkyl 4- or 3-hydroxy benzoates 1 and 2, respectively, and from methyl indoleacetate 3. The phenolic OH group of benzoates 1 and 2 were substituted with p-toluenesulfonyl (4 and 5), benzoyl (6 and 7), and benzyl groups (8 and 9) and then converted to 5,6-dihydro-5-oxo-4H-1,3,4-oxadiazine-4-propanenitriles. To establish structure-activity relationships (SAR), a pharmacological screening of the intervening intermediates was also conducted, which revealed that the intermediate hydrazide 11 possesses significant antimicrobial and MAO-A inhibiting properties and intermediates 12, 24, 28, and 29 appreciable antifungal activities. Compound 7 inhibits α-chymotrypsin.

Eight new beta-N-substituted acyl hydrazides along with their corresponding acyl derivatives were synthesized and screened for in vitro beta-glucuronidase inhibition and found to be active against the enzyme. All of these compounds were found to be noncompetitive inhibitors except for N'-(2-cyanoethyl)-4-hydroxy benzohydrazide (10), which was found to be an uncompetitive inhibitor. Structure-activity relationship studies indicated that the benzyloxy group present in compounds 12 and 13 is responsible for the beta-glucuronidase inhibition activity.

A series of hydrazine derivatives was synthesized in order to evaluate their monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) inhibitory effects. MAO-A inhibitory activity of 4-tosyl benzoic acid carbohydrazide was quite potent, similarly to that of the corresponding 4-benzyloxy-benzoic acid carbohydrazide and its N-cyanoethylated derivative. Structural variations of these compounds, such as the replacement of the 4-substitutent, of the aromatic ring on which the carbohydrazide moiety is grafted, as well as cyclization of the hydrazide moiety in five- or six-membered rings caused either significant decline or complete loss of MAO inhibitory properties. The most active compound (4-tosyl benzoic acid carbohydrazide) was also subjected to the forced swim test, an animal model of depression, eliciting a marked reduction in immobility time in rats, without affecting the locomotor activity, implying that it possesses anti-depressant properties due to inhibition of MAO type-A.