Pazinaclone has a very similar pharmacological profile to the benzodiazepines including sedative and anxiolytic properties, but with less amnestic effects,[1] and at low doses it is a relatively selective anxiolytic, with sedative effects only appearing at higher doses.

[2] Pazinaclone produces its sedative and anxiolytic effects by acting as a partial agonist at GABAA benzodiazepine receptors, although pazinaclone is more subtype-selective than most benzodiazepines.

Selective reduction of one of the imide carbonyl groups in essence converts that to an aldehyde.

Condensation with tert-butyl(triphenylphosphoranylidene)acetate gives the Wittig product.

The carboxylic acid is then treated with diethyl cyanophosphonate to convert that to an activated acid cyanide; reaction with 1,4-dioxa-8-azaspiro[4.5]decane results in formation of the corresponding amide, pazinaclone.