Cyclazodone is a centrally acting stimulant drug developed by American Cyanamid Company in the 1960s.[1] The drug is related to other drugs such as pemoline and thozalinone. It displayed a favorable therapeutic index and margin of safety in comparison to pemoline and other N-lower-alkyl-substituted pemoline derivatives.[2] The patents concluded that cyclazodone possessed properties efficacious in reducing fatigue and as a potential anorectic.[3] Structural congeners of pemoline have been described as "excitants with unique properties distinguishing them from the sympathomimetic amines" whilst displaying less stimulatory activity and toxicity compared to amphetamine.[4]
It is included under the World Anti-Doping Agency prohibited list.[5]
Cyclazodone has not been evaluated by the United States Food and Drug Administration for use in humans as a nootropic, anorectic, or stimulant and thus safety information is lacking. However, in studies relating to the therapeutic uses of cyclazodone, it was noted that it exhibited less cardiotoxic and hepatotoxic effects than D-amphetamine in studies on mice.
α-Chlorophenylacetyl chloride (1) and 1-cyclopropylurea (2) react to give the amide (3). The heterocycle cyclazodone is formed on threatment of this with sodium ethoxide.[2] [6]