Benzo›d! isoxazole derivatives, compositions containing them and their use in therapy

A method for treating a patient suffering from a condition requiring an improvement in learning ability or the alleviation of anxiety which comprises administering to said patient a therapeutically effective mount of a compound of a formula (I) ##STR7## in which X represents a group >O, >S, >C.dbd.O or >NR wherein R is hydrogen, C.sub.1-6 alkyl, phenyl or C.sub.7-12 phenalkyl, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 each represent hydrogen or together represent an oxo group and R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 each represent hydrogen or R.sub.1 represents hydrogen and two of R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 together represent the second bond of a double bond joining positions 7 and 8, 8 and 9 or 9 and 10 with the remaining two of R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 representing hydrogen, the compound optionally being in the form of a salt thereof formed with a physiologically acceptable inorganic or organic acid.

A method for treating a patient suffering from anxiety which comprises administering to said patient a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula I. ##STR8## in which X represents a group >O, >S, >C.dbd.O or >NR wherein R is hydrogen, C.sub.1-6 alkyl, phenyl or C.sub.7-12 phenalkyl, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 each represent hydrogen or together represent an oxo group and R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 each represent hydrogen or R.sub.1 represents hydrogen and two of R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 together represent the second bond of a double bond joining positions 7 and 8, 8 and 9 or 9 and 10 with the remaining two of R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 representing hydrogen, the compound optionally being in the form of a salt thereof formed with a physiologically acceptable inorganic or organic acid.

A method for the treatment of a patient requiring improvement of learning ability and/or the reversal of amnesia which comprises the step administering to said patient a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula (I) ##STR9## in which X represents a group >O, >S, >C.dbd.O or >NR wherein R is hydrogen, C.sub.1-6 alkyl, phenyl or C.sub.7-12 phenalkyl, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 each represent hydrogen or together represent an oxo group and R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 each represent hydrogen or R.sub.1 represents hydrogen and two of R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 together represent the second bond of a double bond joining positions 7 and 8, 8 and 9 or 9 and 10 with the remaining two of R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 representing hydrogen, the compound optionally being in the form of a salt thereof formed with a physiologically acceptable inorganic or organic acid.

A method of preparing an anxiolytic agent or an agent for effecting improvements in learning behavior, which comprises the steps of:

• reacting a compound of formula (II):
• ##STR10## in which R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 each represent hydrogen or together represent an oxo group and R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 each represent hydrogen or R.sub.1 represents hydrogen and two of R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 together represent the second bond of a double bond joining positions 7 and 8, 8 and 9 or 9 and 10 with the remaining two of R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 representing hydrogen, with a compound of formula (III):
• ##STR11## wherein X represents a group >O, >S, >C.dbd.O or >NR wherein R is hydrogen, C.sub.1-6 alkyl, phenyl or C.sub.7-12 phenalkyl, with the proviso that when each of R.sub.1 to R.sub.5 is hydrogen, X is not O.

A method of preparing an anxiolytic agent, which comprises the steps of:

• reacting a compound of formula (II):
• ##STR12## in which R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 each represent hydrogen or together represent an oxo group and R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 each represent hydrogen or R.sub.1 represents hydrogen and two of R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 together represent the second bond of a double bond joining positions 7 and 8, 8 and 9 or 9 and 10 with the remaining two of R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 representing -hydrogen, with a compound of formula (III):
• ##STR13## wherein X represents a group >O, >S, >C.dbd.O or >NR wherein R is hydrogen, C.sub.1-6 alkyl, phenyl or C.sub.7-12 phenalkyl, with the proviso that when each of R.sub.1 to R.sub.5 is hydrogen, X is not O.

A method of preparing an agent for effecting improvements in learning behavior, which comprises the steps of:

• reacting a compound of formula (II):
• ##STR14## in which R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 each represent hydrogen or together represent an oxo group and R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 each represent hydrogen or R.sub.1 represents hydrogen and two of R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 together represent the second bond of a double bond joining positions 7 and 8, 8 and 9 or 9 and 10 with the remaining two of R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 representing hydrogen, with a compound of formula (III):
• ##STR15## wherein X represents a group >O, >S, >C.dbd.O or >NR wherein R is hydrogen, C.sub.1-6 alkyl, phenyl or C.sub.7-12 phenalkyl, with the proviso that when each of R.sub.1 to R.sub.5 is hydrogen, X is not O.

A method according to claim 14, wherein the compound of formula (III) is formed in situ from a compound of formula (IIIa):

• ##STR16## wherein X is as defined in claim 20, and converting the compound of formula (IIIa) to the compound of formula (III) by a tungstate catalyzed oxidation.