Tricyclic epines. Novel (E)- and (Z)-11H-dibenz[b,e]azepines as potential central nervous system agents. Variation of the basic side chain

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Abstract
The synthesis and pharmacological activity of new (E), (Z)-[6-(alkylamino)-11H-dibenz[b,e]azepin-11-ylidene]-acetonitriles 12-45 and (E), (Z)-[6-(aminoalkoxy)-11H-dibenz[b,e]azepin-11-ylidene]acetonitriles 46-51 are described. The introduction of the cyanomethylene group into the 11-position of the 11H-denz[b,e]azepine framework has been carried out by a Wittig-Horner reaction under mild conditions. The (E),(Z) isomers were separated by fractional crystallization, assignment being achieved by X-ray analysis. A number of (E),(Z)-[6-(alkylamino)-11H-dibenz-[b,e]azepin-11-ylidene]acetonitriles (12, 14, 16, 20) show potent neuroleptic activity (2-7 times that of clozapine) in animal tests. The screening included tests for sedative anticholinergic activity in mice, apomorphine and tryptamine antagonism in rats, and muscle-relaxing activity in rabbits. The divergence in the activity profile in the case of the separated (E),(Z) isomers has been observed as an interesting new aspect: the (Z) isomers show a significantly higher sedative and muscle-relaxant activity, whereas the (E) isomers possess a higher anticholinergic efficacy and somewhat greater apomorphine antagonism. Broad changes in the basic side chain were made in order to investigate structure-activity relationships. The important geometrical parameters for the molecules, obtained by X-ray analysis, were compared with the corresponding features in dopamine agonists and antagonists.