| abstract |
6-substituted or 2-alkyl substituted indole or 2,3-dihydroindole derivatives having the general formula I: <CHEM> where Ar is optionally substituted phenyl, or a hetero aromatic group; X is hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxy, alkylthio, alkylsulfonyl, alkyl- or dialkylamino, cyano, trifluoromethyl, or trifluoromethylthio; X min is a substituent taken from the X-substituents; or X and X min are linked to constitute a 5-7 membered carbocyclic ring; R<1> is hydrogen or optionally hydroxy substituted lower alkyl, provided that when X is hydrogen or fluoro, R<1> cannot be hydrogen; Y is nitrogen or carbon; the dotted lines indicate optional bonds, provided that the two dotted lines may not at the same time indicate bonds; R is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, or cycloalkylmethyl optionally substituted with hydroxy, or R is a group taken from structures 1a and 1b: <CHEM> wherein n is an integer from 2 to 6; W is oxygen or sulfur; U is nitrogen or carbon; Z is an optionally substituted 2 or 3 membered divalent carbon chain; V is oxygen, sulfur, CH2, or NR<2>, wherein R<2> is hydrogen, optionally hydroxy substituted alkyl or alkenyl, or a cycloalkyl or cycloalkylmethyl group; V<1> is oxygen, sulfur, CH2 or N- R<5>, R<5> being defined as R<2> above; R<3> is hydrogen, optionally hydroxy substituted alkyl or alkenyl, or a cycloalkyl group; and R<4> is one or two groups taken from the R<3>-substituents, have long lasting serotonin activity with specific binding to the 5-HT2 receptors in the CNS, thus being suitable for therapeutical treatment of CNS disorders such as anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, migraine, negative symptoms of schizophrenia, and Parkinson's disease. |