2,3,4,4a,5,9b-Hexahydro-1H-indeno[1,2-b]pyridines: potential antidepressants.

The synthesis of various diastereoisomeric H4a,H5-cis,H4a,H9b-cis- and H4a,H5-trans,H4a,H9b-cis-2,3,4,4a,5,9b-hexahydro -1H-indeno[1,2-b]pyridines is described, as well as the evaluation of their antidepressant potency. Elucidation of structure-activity relationships revealed the H4a,H5-trans compounds as being by far the more active of the two series of diastereoisomers. Pharmacological and biochemical data suggest that these compounds are potential antidepressants with central stimulating properties, which are characterized by strong norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibition.