Indole derivatives, pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treating neurological and psychiatric disorders

A pharmaceutical composition which comprises an antianxiety effective amount of a compound having the formula:

• ##STR43## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 independently is selected from the group consisting of C.sub.3 -C.sub.12 straight or branched alkyl, aryl or lower alkyl-substituted aryl;
• or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may be joined to form a 4-to 6-membered saturated or unsaturated ring or a 4-to 6-membered saturated or unsaturated lower alkyl-substituted ring;
• R.sub.3 is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 straight or branched alkyl, NO.sub.2, NH.sub.2, N.sub.3, CN, halogen, CO.sub.2 R, OR, or SR wherein R is H or lower alkyl;
• R.sub.4 is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 straight or branched alkyl, NO.sub.2, NH.sub.2, N.sub.3, CN, halogen, CO.sub.2 R, OR, or SR wherein R is H or lower alkyl;
• Z is O, NH, S or --CH.dbd.CH--;
• and n is an integer of 1-3;
• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof;
• and
• a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

A method of treating psychiatric or neurological disorders which comprises administering to a patient in need thereof, a therapeutically effective amount of a compound having the formula:

• ##STR44## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 independently is selected from the group consisting of H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 straight or branched alkyl, aryl or lower alkyl-substituted aryl;
• or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 may be joined to form a 4-to 6-membered saturated or unsaturated ring or a 4-to 6-membered saturated or unsaturated lower alkyl-substituted ring;
• R.sub.3 is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 straight or branched alkyl, NO.sub.2, NH.sub.2, N.sub.3, CN, halogen, CO.sub.2 R, OR, or SR wherein R is H or lower alkyl;
• R.sub.4 is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 straight or branched alkyl, NO.sub.2, NH.sub.2, N.sub.3, CN, halogen, CO.sub.2 R, OR, or SR wherein R is H or lower alkyl;
• Z is 0, NH, S or --CH.dbd.CH--;
• and
• n is an integer of 1-3;
• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.