Synthesis and pharmacological properties of N-aroyl-beta-(1-indanyl)-ethylamines.

Six new N-acyl derivatives of beta-(1-indanyl)ethylamine were obtained. The most active of them, N-(m-chlorobenzoyl/-beta-1-indanyl)-ethylamine (compound 2), decreased the 5-HTP-induced head twitches in mice and the tryptamine-induced syndrome in rats, attenuated the quipazine-induced stimulation of the hindlimb flexor reflex in spinal rats, and reduced the immobility time in mice in the behavioral despair test. All these effects might be indicative of the antidepressive properties of compound 2.