Tricyclic pyridine derivatives

Abstract

Compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein Q.sup.1 and the nitrogen atom taken together are a group of the formula >N--CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 -- (a), >N--CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 -- (b), >N--CH.dbd.CH-- (c), >N--CH.sub.2 --CH.dbd.CH-- (d), >N--CH.sub.2 --S(O).sub.p -- (e), >N--CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --S(O).sub.p -- (f) or >N--CH.dbd.CH--S(O).sub.p -- (g), p is the integer 0, 1 or 2, Ra is a phenyl, pyridyl or thienyl group which is optionally substituted by halogen, trifluoromethyl, nitro, lower alkyl or lower alkoxy, Rb and Rc each, independently, are hydrogen, halogen, trifluoromethyl, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy or nitro and the dotted line signifies an optional bond, or Rb and Rc together with the carbon atom denoted by .alpha. are a group of the formula >C.alpha.--S--CH.dbd.CH-- (h), >C.alpha.--CH.dbd.CH--S-- (i) or >C.alpha.--CH.dbd.CH--CH.dbd.CH-- (j) which is optionally substituted by halogen, trifluoromethyl, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, nitro, amino or mono- or di(lower alkyl)amino, and the dotted line signifies an additional bond, Rd is the group of the formula --(A.sup.1).sub.m --(CO).sub.n --(Q.sup.2 A.sup.2).sub.q --R.sup.1, m, m and q each, independently, are the integer 0 or 1, A.sup.1 is lower alkylene, A.sup.2 is lower alkylene, a direct bond or the group --CO--, Q.sup.2 is an oxygen atom or the group --NR.sup.2 --, R.sup.1 is hydrogen, hydroxy, cyano, nitro, halogen, lower alkoxy, lower alkyl, lower alkoxycarbonyl, aryl, a group of the formula --NR.sup.3 R.sup.4 or a 5-membered, saturated, partially unsaturated or aromatic heterocycle which is attached via a carbon atom and which is optionally substituted by one or two lower alkyl groups and optionally substituted by a (C.sub.3-6)-cycloalkyl, hydroxy, lower alkoxy, lower alkanoyloxy, lower hydroxyalkyl, lower alkoxyalkyl, lower alkanoyloxyalkyl, lower alkoxycarbonyl, lower alkanoyl, carbamoyl, mono- or di(lower alkyl)carbamoyl, oxo or alkylenedioxy group, R.sup.2 is hydrogen, lower alkyl or aryl, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 each, independently, are hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxyalkyl, lower dialkoxyalkyl, lower alkylenedioxyalkyl, lower cyanoalkyl, lower haloalkyl, lower hydroxyalkyl, lower dihydroxyalkyl, lower alkanoyl, lower alkoxycarbonyl or a (C.sub.3-7)-cycloalkyl group which is optionally substituted by hydroxy, lower alkoxy, lower alkanoyloxy, lower hydroxyalkyl, lower alkoxyalkyl, lower alkanoyloxyalkyl, oxo, carbamoyl, mono- or di(lower alkyl)carbamoyl or by lower alkylenedioxy or together with the nitrogen atom is a 3- to 7-membered, saturated N-heterocycle which is optionally substituted by one or two lower alkyl groups and optionally substituted by one or two hydroxy, lower alkoxy, lower alkanoyloxy, lower hydroxyalkyl, lower alkoxyalkyl, lower alkanoyloxyalkyl, lower alkoxycarbonyl, lower alkanoyl, carbamoyl, mono- or di(lower alkyl)carbamoyl, oxo or lower alkylenedioxy groups and which can contain as a ring member an oxygen or sulfur atom or the group >N--R.sup.5, and R.sup.5 is hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower hydroxyalkyl, lower alkoxyalkyl, lower alkanoyloxyalkyl, lower alkanoyl, lower alkoxycarbonyl, carbamoyl or mono- or di(lower alkyl) carbamoyl, with the proviso that n is 0 when q is 1 and A.sup.2 is the group --CO--, that R.sup.1 is other than cyano, nitro, halogen or lower alkoxycarbonyl when q is 0 and n is 1 or when q is 1 and A.sup.2 is --CO--, and that R.sup.1 is other than hydroxy, cyano, nitro, halogen, lower alkoxycarbonyl, lower alkoxy and --NR.sup.3 R.sup.4 when q is 1 and A.sup.2 is a direct bond, or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt of a compound of formula I which has one or more basic substituents, are described. The compounds of formula I possess pronounced muscle relaxant, sedative-hypnotic, anticonvulsive and anxiolytic properties and have low toxicity.