Collection of Czechoslovak Chemical Communications - digital archive 

Abstract

Reactions of 10-bromodibenzo[b,f]thiepin (IIIa), its 2-chloro derivative IIIb and 2,8-dichloro derivative IIIc with cuprous cyanide in boiling dimethylformamide gave the carbonitriles Iabc out of which the first two were reduced with sodium borohydride to the 10,11-dihydro derivatives IVab; the amides VIIab were obtained as by-products. Alkaline hydrolysis of the nitriles IVab or their mixtures with the amides VIIab afforded the acids VIIIab. By the addition of 3-dimethylaminopropylmagnesium chloride to the nitrile Ia cis and trans-11-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-10,11-dihydrodibenzo[b,f]thiepin-10-carbonitriles (XVIII) were obtained. Alkylation of the nitrile IVa with 2-dimethylaminoethyl chloride and 3-dimethylaminopropyl chloride resulted in the 10-(dimethylaminoalkyl) derivatives XX and XXI. A reaction of the crude cyano alcohol XXIII with phosphorus tribromide afforded the 2-bromoethyl derivative XXIV as a by-product only. The main product was the hydrobromide of the spirocyclic imidate XXX which affords by acid hydrolysis the spirocyclic lactone XXXI. An analogous sequence proceeding via the ether XXVI and the alcohol XXVII leads to the 10-(3-bromopropyl) derivative XXVIII as the main product. An attempt at preparing the same substance by alkylation of the nitrile IVa with 1,3-dibromopropane gave stereoisomeric dinitriles XXXII. At high doses the amides VIIab reveal an anticonvulsant effect, the acids VIIIab antiinflammatory actions, the basic nitrile cis-XVIII antireserpine activity and the basic nitriles XX and XXI a central depressant and pseudo-analgesic activity in addition to further peripheral and cardiovascular effects.