| abstract |
The invention relates to a process for the preparation of compounds of the formula I in which the hydrogen atoms bonded to the carbon atoms in the 4a and 9b positions are trans-related and X & ind1! and Y & ind1! are the same or different and denote hydrogen or fluorine and further wherein Z & ind1! Is hydrogen, fluorine or methoxy and n is 3 or 4. A preferred compound is trans-8-fluoro-5- (p-fluorophenyl) -2- & 4-hydroxy-d1-4 (p-fluorophenyl) -butyl! -2,3,4,4a, 5,9b-hexahydroxy 1H-pyrido & 4,3-b! Indole obtained by reacting borane in tetrahydrofuran with 8-fluoro-5- (p-fluorophenyl) -2- & 4-hydroxy-4- (p-fluorophenyl) butyl! -2,3, 4,5-tetrahydropyrido & 4,3-b! Indole is recovered. The compounds obtained are useful in the manufacture of sedatives. |