Phenylmethylenehydantoins (PMHs) and their des-phenyl analogues were synthesized and evaluated for anticonvulsant activity using the maximal electroshock seizure (MES) assay. The phenyl rings of PMHs were substituted with a wide spectrum of groups, and the selection of substituents was guided by Craig's plot. Phenylmethylenehydantoins substituted with alkyl (2, 3, 5, 6, 12, 14), halogeno (35, 38, 41), trifluoromethyl (11), and alkoxyl (23) ...