Cinazepam (BD-798, sold under brand name Levana) is an atypical benzodiazepine derivative.

[2] Cinazepam has an order of magnitude lower affinity for the benzodiazepine receptor of the GABAA complex relative to other well-known hypnotic benzodiazepines such as nitrazepam and phenazepam.

[2] Moreover, in mice, it is rapidly metabolized, with only 5% of the base compound remaining within 30 minutes of administration.

[2] As such, cinazepam is considered to be a benzodiazepine prodrug; specifically, to 3-hydroxyphenazepam, as the main active metabolite.

Reaction with hydroxylamine preferentially causes alkylation by displacement of the leaving group than oxime formation.