Synthesis and receptor binding studies of 2-functionalized 1,4-benzodiazepine derivatives as potential metaclazepam-like antianxiety agents.

The synthesis of 7-chloro-2,3-dihydro-2-(2-methoxyethyl)-1-methyl-5-phenyl- 1H-1,4-benzodiazepine (2) is described. While the metaclazepam-like compound 2 showed an affinity for benzodiazepine receptor central type (CBZRs) comparable to that of metaclazepam (1a), its intermediates bearing the exocyclic double bond resulted more active.