Abstract: The preparation of compounds having the formula I ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is --CN, --CO--N(CH.sub.3).sub.2 or --CS--N(CH.sub.3).sub.2 and R.sup.2 is hydrogen, methyl or a removable protecting group is carried out by condensing a compound having the formula ##STR2## where M is lithium, sodium, potassium or halomagnesium and R.sup.3 is methyl or a removable protecting group in a solvent comprising 80-100% of one or more hydrocarbons and 0-20% of one or more ethers.The solvent enables less inconvenient reaction temperatures to be used and higher yields to be obtained. Compounds (I) are new per se where R.sup.1 is --CS--N(CH.sub.3).sub.2. Compounds (I) are chemical intermediates for preparing N,N-dimethyl-2-(1-hydroxycyclohexyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl or 4-methoxyphenyl) ethylamine and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. These end products are antidepressants.

Abstract: Compounds of the formula: ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 is alkyl; R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are alkyl or taken together they are polymethylene, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 complete a 5-norbornen-2-yl moiety; X is --CO.sub.2 --, --OCO--, --OCO.sub.2 --, --N(R.sup.7)CO--, --NHNHCO--, --ON(R.sup.7)CO--, --CON(R.sup.7)--, --N(R.sup.7)CO.sub.2 --, --OCON(R.sup.7)-- or --N(R.sup.7)CON(R.sup.8)--, wherein R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 are, independently, hydrogen, alkyl, phenyl, benzyl, substituted phenyl or substituted benzyl in which the substituents are halo, alkyl alkoxy, cyano, nitro or perhalomethyl; R.sup.4 is hydrogen or alkyl; R.sup.5 is hydrogen, alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, phenyl, benzyl, substituted phenyl or substituted benzyl in which the substituents are hydroxy, halo, alkyl alkoxy, trifluoromethyl, nitro, cyano, carbalkoxy, carboxamido, amino, alkylamino or dialkylamino; R.sup.