4-Chloropyridine and 4,6-dïchloropyrimidine react regioselectively with lithium diisopropylamide to give 4-chloro-3-lithiopyridine and 4,6-dichloro-5-lithiopyrimidine, respectively. These intermediates react with benzaldehydes to give (4-chloro-3-pyridinyl) and 4,6-dichloro-5-pyrimidinyl)-arylmethanols which are oxidized to the corresponding ketones by chromium(VI) oxide in acetone. These compounds ran be nucleophilically substituted with ammonia or primary amines to give 4-amino-3-aroylpyridines or amino-5-aroylpyridines. The 3 aroyl-4-chloropyridines can also be easily converted into 3-aroyl-4(1H)-pyridinones.
Pyrido[4,3‐e]‐1,4‐diazepines and fused tricyclic analogs thereof have been synthesized and tested for inhibition of benzodiazepine binding to receptors in various rat brain structures in comparison with standard drugs. Structure‐affinity relationships are discussed.