Abstract: This invention provides compositions comprising a physiologically-active agent and an azacycloalkene having at least one double bond in the ring and of the general formula ##STR1## wherein X and Y, each, may represent sulfur, oxygen or two hydrogen atoms, A is a straight or branched chain, divalent aliphatic radical having from 0 to 2 double bonds; R' is selected from the group consisting of H, a lower alkyl group having 1-4 carbon atoms, phenyl, lower alkyl or halogen substituted phenyl, acetamido, halogen, piperidinyl, lower alkyl or halogen substituted piperidinyl, carbalkoxy, carboxamide, and alkylformyl; m is 3-7; q is 2m-2x, wherein x equals the number of double bonds in the lactam ring and may be 1, 2 or 3; and R is --CH.sub.3, ##STR2## wherein R" is H or halogen in an amount effective to enhance the penetration of the physiologically-active agent through the skin or other membrane of the body of an animal.

Abstract: Compounds having calcium channel antagonist activity of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each independently amino, trifluoromethyl, pentafluoroethyl, alkoxy, lower alkenyl, or lower alkynyl or branched or unbranched lower alkyl, which is unsubstituted or is substituted with cyano, hydroxy, acyloxy, hydrazino, lower alkyl amino, or di(lower alkyl)-amino or 5 or 6 membered saturated nitrogen-containing heterocyclic-1-yl, which is unsubstituted or is substituted with oxo, hydroxy, alkyl, and hydroxy (lower alkyl) R.sub.3 is straight- or branched-chain C.sub.1 to C.sub.12 alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, or cycloalkyl, and is either unsubstituted or substituted with hydroxy, acyloxy, cyano, di(lower alkyl) amino 5- or 6-membered saturated nitrogen-containing heterocyclic-1-yl or R.sub.3 is --A-R.sub.4, A is a straight- or branched-chain hydrocarbon moiety containing from 2 to 12 carbon atoms and from 0 to 2 double bonds, R.sub.4 is selected from the group consisting of: ##STR2## R.sub.

Abstract: In a method of synthesis of 1-substituted azacycloalkan-2-ones with primary alkyl halides and aralkyl halides as alkylating agents, the improvement comprising carrying out the N-alkylation in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst having the structural formula ##STR1## where X is suitable anion; and R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are each alkyl or aralkyl groups having 1-18 carbon atoms, or R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 can form a part of a heterocyclic ring, with the proviso that the combined total of carbon atoms is between 16 and 40.