Imidazodiazepines

A pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of a compound of the formula ##STR21## wherein A together with the two carbon atoms denoted by .alpha. and .beta. is one of the residues ##STR22## Q is one of the residues ##STR23## R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each independently are hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, lower alkynyl, lower hydroxyalkyl, lower alkoxy-lower alkyl, (C.sub.3 -C.sub.6)-cycloalkyl, (C.sub.3 -C.sub.6)-cycloalkyl-lower alkyl, amino-lower alkyl, lower alkylamino-lower alkyl, di-lower alkylamino-lower alkyl or aryl-lower alkyl or together with the nitrogen atom are 1-pyrrolidinyl, 1-pyrrolinyl, piperidino, 2,6-dimethylpiperidino, 3,3-dimethylpiperidino, hexamethyleneimin-1-yl, heptamethyleneimin-1-yl, morpholino, 4-methyl-1-piperazinyl, or isoindolin-2-yl,

• R.sup.3 is hydrogen and R.sup.4 is lower alkyl or R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 together are dimethylene or trimethylene and
• R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 each independently are hydrogen, halogen, trifluoromethyl, lower alkoxy or nitro,
• the compounds of formula I having the (S) configuration with reference to the carbon atom denoted by .gamma. when R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 together are dimethylene or trimethylene,
• or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof.

A method of treating convulsion, anxiety states, muscle tensions, tension states and insomnia which comprises administering to a patient in need of such treatment an effective amount of a compound of the formula ##STR24## wherein A together with the two carbon atoms denoted by .alpha. and .beta. is one of the residues ##STR25## Q is one of the residues ##STR26## R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each independently are hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, lower alkynyl, lower hydroxyalkyl, lower alkoxy-lower alkyl, (C.sub.3 -C.sub.6)-cycloalkyl, (C.sub.3 -C.sub.6)-cycloalkyl-lower alkyl, amino-lower alkyl, lower alkylamino-lower alkyl, di-lower alkylamino-lower alkyl or aryl-lower alkyl or together with the nitrogen atom are a 5- to 8-membered heterocycle optionally containing a further hetero atom or a fused benzene ring,

• R.sup.3 is hydrogen and R.sup.4 is lower alkyl or R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 together are dimethylene or trimethylene and
• R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 each independently are hydrogen, halogen, trifluoromethyl, lower alkoxy or nitro,
• the compounds of formula I having the (S) configuration with reference to the carbon atom denoted by .gamma. when R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 together are dimethylene or trimethylene,
• or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof.