The finding that alkyl 1, 4-dihydro-4-oxoquinoline-3-carboxylate and N-alkyl-1, 4-dihydro-4- oxoquinoline-3-carboxamide derivatives may be high-affinity ligands at the benzodiazepine binding site of the GABAA receptor, prompted a study of 3-acyl-1, 4-dihydro-4-oxoquinoline (3-acyl-4-quinolones). In general, the affinity of the 3-acyl derivatives was found to be comparable with the 3-carboxylate and the 3-carboxamide derivatives, and certain ...