Synthesis and receptor binding evaluation of clavizepine analogues with no ring D substituents.

Assembly of the azepine ring of xantheno[9,1-cd]azepines by electrophilic cyclization of sulfonamide acetals provides access to clavizepine analogues in the form of 2,12b-dihydro- or 4-hydroxy-2,3,4,12b-tetrahydro-1H-xantheno[9,1-cd]azepines, in the latter case producing the trans derivative stereoselectively. Binding assays for clavizepine and analogues at adrenergic, dopaminergic, and serotonergic receptors are reported.