Abstract: Disclosed are methods of preparing azepines by a multistep synthesis including a Diels-Alder reaction. Also disclosed are methods of treating or preventing neuronal loss associated with stroke, ischemia, CNS trauma, hypoglycemia and surgery, as well as treating neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's disease and Down's syndrome, treating or preventing the adverse consequences of the hyperactivity of the excitatory amino acids, as well as treating anxiety, chronic pain, convulsions, inducing anesthesia and treating or preventing opiate tolerance are disclosed by administering to an animal in need of such treatment an azepine which has high binding to the NMDA glycine site.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are substituted or unsubstituted 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline-2,3,4-trione-3 or 4-oximes or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof that have high binding to the glycine receptor and are usefully administered to animals for the treatment or prevention of the adverse consequences of the hyperactivity of the excitatory amino acids, or neuronal loss associated with stroke, ischemia, CNS trauma, hypoglycemia and surgery, for the treatment of anxiety, chronic pain, convulsions, and neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's disease and Down's syndrome; and for the inducement of anesthesia.