| abstract |
A compound of general formula (1), in which: Y denotes hydrogen, a halogen or a C1-4 alkyl group X1 and X2 denote, independently of each other, hydrogen, a halogen or a C1-4 alkoxy, C1-6 alkyl, CF3, CH3S CH3SO2 or NO2 group and R1 and R2 denote independently of each other, hydrogen or a C1-5 alkyl group, with the proviso that R1 and R2 do not both denote hydrogen, or a salt thereof is prepared by a multi-step process, the last step of which comprises reducing a compound of the general formula (6), in which Y, X1, X2, R1 and R2 are as defined above with an appropriate reducing agent, such as Zn, and, if desired, converting the compound of formula (1) thus obtained, into a salt. The products of this process are known to have useful pharmacological properties, e.g. as anxiolytics. |