Substituted diphenylsulfides as serotonin uptake inhibitors

摘要

A class of halogen-substituted diphenylsulfide compounds are disclosed. In formula (I), n and m are the same or different and are each 0, 1, 2 or 3; R and R1 are the same or different and are each hydrogen or straight or branched C1-6 alkyl; R2 and R4 are the same or different and are each hydrogen or C1-4 alkyl; R3 and R5 are the same or different and are each hydrogen, halo (e.g. fluoro, bromo, iodo, chloro), trifluoromethyl, C1-4 alkyl, C1-4 alkylthio, nitro or NR6R7 wherein R6 and R7 are the same or different and are hydrogen or C1-3 alkyl; provided that both R3 and R5 are not hydrogen and further provided that when n and m are 0, R2 and R4 are hydrogen and R5 is halo and is in the 5 position of the phenyl ring (A'), then R3 cannot be hydrogen; or a pharmaceutically acceptable ester, salt or other physiologically functional derivative thereof, which produce a large selective inhibition of serotonin uptake in brain. Such compounds are useful in the treatment or prevention of a range of depressive conditions as well as anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorders and alcoholism.