Process of preparing cycloalkano(1,2-B)indole-sulphonamides

A process for preparing a cycloalkano[1,2-b]indole-sulphonamide of the formula ##STR86## or a salt thereof comprising reacting a (benzenesulphonamidoalkyl)cycloalkano[1,2-b]indole of the formula ##STR87## in which R.sup.1 represents hydrogen, halogen, trifluoromethyl, carboxyl or alkoxycarbonyl;

• or represents a group of the formula --S(O).sub.m R.sup.3,
• in which
• R.sup.3 denotes alkyl or aryl, and
• m denotes one of the numbers 0, 1 or 2;
• represents a group of the formula ##STR88## in which R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are identical or different and represent hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl or acetyl;
• or represents a group of the formula --OR.sup.6,
• in which
• R.sup.6 denotes hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkyl-SO.sub.3 --, aryl-SO.sub.2 --, aralkyl-SO.sub.2 -- or trifluoromethyl;
• or represents alkyl, alkenyl or cycloalkyl each of which is unsubstituted or substituted by carboyl, alkoxycarbonyl, halogen, hydroxyl, alkoxy, alkylthio or cyano,
• R.sup.1 represents aryl which is unsubstituted or substituted up to 5 times by halogen, cyano, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, trifluoromethylthio, alkyl, carboxyalkyl, alkoxycarbonylalkyl, alkoxy, alkylthio, hydroxyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, phenyl, phenoxy, benzyloxy, benzylthio or by a group of the formula ##STR89## in which R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 have the abovementioned meanings,
• x represents the number 1, 2 or 3, and
• y represents the number 0 or 1, with acrylonitrile inthe presence of an inert solvent, hydrolyzing the resultant N,N'-biscyanoethyl compound, and then in the case where a cycloalkano[1,2-b]dihydroindole-sulphonamide is being prepared, hydrogenating the cycloalkano [1,2-b]indolesulphonamide in the presence of an acid and of a reducing agent, or in the case where the salts are being prepared, conducting a reaction with an appropriate base.