Tricyclic psychotropic agents containing two chalcogen atoms in the central ring: 8-Substituted 6-(4-piperidyl)-6H-dibenz[b,e]-1,4-oxathiepins

2-(2-Fluorophenylthio)benzaldehydes IXa-c and 5-chloro-2-(2-fluorophenylthio)acetophenone were treated with 1-methyl-4-piperidylmagnesium chloride and 3-dimethylaminopropylmagnesium chloride, respectively, and the resulting amino alcohols VIa-c, XVII and XVIII were cyclized with sodium hydride in dimethylformamide. In addition to the title compounds Ia-c, XIX and XX, several types of by-products were obtained. Demethylation of compound Ib by the chloroformate method afforded the secondary amine IIb which was transformed to the amino alcohols IIIb and Vb. Compounds Ia-c are very potent neuroleptics with a high degree of central depressant and cataleptic activity. The amino alcohol Vb exhibits a very strong antiapomorphine effect in rats.