| abstract |
Compounds of the formula <IMAGE> I wherein n is 0, 1, or 2; X is hydrogen, chlorine, bromine or iodine; R1 is hydrogen; R3 is selected from hydrogen and C1 to C6 linear or branched alkyl; and R2 is as defined in the specification and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are useful psychotherapeutics and are potent serotonin (5-HT1) agonists and may be used in the treatment of depression, anxiety, eating disorders, obesity, drug abuse, cluster headache, migraine, pain, chronic paroxysmal hemicrania and headache associated with vascular disorders, and other disorders arising from deficient serotonergic neurotransmission. The compounds can also be used as centrally acting antihypertensives and vasodilators. A process for forming indoles by transition metal catalyzed cyclization of a dihalogenated intermediate is also disclosed. |