Antidepressant azaheterocyclylmethyl derivatives of oxaheterocycle-fused-[1,4]-benzodioxans

A method of treating a subject suffering from a disorder selected from the group consisting of depression, anxiety, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, social anxiety disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, which comprises providing to the subject suffering from said condition, a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula I

• wherein
• R1, R3, R4, R5 and R7 are, independently, hydrogen, halo, cyano, carboxamido, carboalkoxy of two to six carbon atoms, trifluoromethyl, alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, alkoxy of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, alkanoyloxy of 2 to 6 carbon atoms, amino, mono- or di-alkylamino in which each alkyl group has 1 to 6 carbon atoms, alkanamido of 2 to 6 carbon atoms, or alkanesulfonamido of 1 to 6 carbon atoms;
• Y is C═O or C(R2)2 and Z is CH2, CH2CH2, CH═CH or NR2, or Y and Z, taken together, form CR2═CH, N═CR2 or CR2═N;
• R2 and R6 are hydrogen or alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms;
• X is CR7 or N;
• A dotted line represents an optional double bond;
• and
• n is an integer 0, 1 or 2;
• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of formula I

• wherein
• R1, R3, R4, R5 and R7 are, independently, hydrogen, halo, cyano, carboxamido, carboalkoxy of two to six carbon atoms, trifluoromethyl, alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, alkoxy of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, alkanoyloxy of 2 to 6 carbon atoms, amino, mono- or di-alkylamino in which each alkyl group has 1 to 6 carbon atoms, alkanamido of 2 to 6 carbon atoms, or alkanesulfonamido of 1 to 6 carbon atoms;
• Y is C═O or C(R2)2 and Z is CH2, CH2CH2, CH═CH or NR2, or Y and Z, taken together, form CR2═CH, N═CR2 or CR2═N;
• R2 and R6 are hydrogen or alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms;
• X is CR7 or N;
• A dotted line represents an optional double bond;
• and
• n is an integer 0, 1 or 2;
• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof;
• and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.