the compounds of the formula ( i ) can be prepared by the acylation of compounds of the formula ( a ) in which each r is -- nh 2 , using a c 1 - c 4 alkanesulphonyl chloride or bromide , or a c 1 - c 4 alkanesulphonic anhydride . clearly at least two equivalents of the acylating agent will be required and , of course , the r groups in the final product will be the same . the reaction is typically carried out at room temperature , and optionally in the presence of an acid acceptor such as pyridine , triethylamine , potassium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate . the presence of an acid acceptor is particularly useful when an alkanesulphonyl chloride or bromide is used . it is in fact particularly convenient to carry out the reaction using an alkanesulphonyl chloride in pyridine which functions both as the acid acceptor and as the solvent . the product of the formula ( i ) can then be isolated and purified by conventional means . the starting materials of the formula ( a ) in which each r is -- nh 2 can be prepared by the reduction of the corresponding compounds in which each r is -- no 2 according to conventional techniques , e . g . by using h 2 / pd / c in a suitable organic solvent , e . g . ethyl acetate or a mixture of ethyl acetate and methanol , at about room temperature . the starting materials of the formula ( a ) in which each r -- no 2 can be prepared as follows : ## str4 ## q is a leaving group such as cl , br , i , methanesulphonyloxy , benzenesulphonyloxy or toluenesulphonyloxy . q is preferably br . the reaction is typically carried out in an organic solvent , e . g . acetonitrile or acetonitrile / ethanol , under reflux and in the presence of a base such as potassium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate . the indane starting material can be prepared by the procedure illustrated in detail in preparations 1 to 3 . the substituted nitrobenzene starting materials are in general known compounds or can be prepared analogously to the methods of the prior art such as those described in the following preparations . when n is 1 or 2 and x is a direct link , then the following routes , which are illustrated in detail in the following preparations , can also be used to prepare the starting materials of the formula ( a ) in which each r is -- no 2 : ## str5 ## the following examples , in which all temperatures are in ° c ., illustrate the preparation of the compounds of the formula ( i ): methanesulphonyl chloride ( 0 . 15 ml ) was added to a solution of 5 - amino - 2 -[ n -( 2 -{ 4 - aminiophenoxy } ethyl )- n - methylamino ] indane ( 0 . 25 g ) in pyridine and the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 17 hours . the solvent was then removed by evaporation in vacuo to give a gum which was purified by column chromatography on silica eluting with methylene chloride containing methanol ( 0 % up to 1 %). the product - containing fractions were combined and evaporated in vacuo to give the title compound as a foam , yield ( 0 . 06 g ). &# 39 ; h - n . m . r . ( cdcl 3 ): δ = 7 . 25 ( d , 2h ); 7 . 2 ( d , 1h ); 7 . 1 ( s , 1h ); 7 . 0 ( d , 1h ); 6 . 95 ( d , 2h ); 4 . 1 ( t , 2h ); 3 . 55 ( t , 1h ); 3 . 1 ( m , 2h ); 3 . 05 ( s , 3h ); 3 . 0 ( s , 3h ); 2 . 9 ( m , 4h ); 2 . 45 ( s , 3h ). methanesulphonyl chloride ( 0 . 155 ml ) was added to a solution of 5 - amino - 2 -[ n -( 4 - aminophenethyl )- n - methylamino ] indane ( 0 . 28 g ) in pyridine ( 30 ml ) and the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 17 hours . the solvent was then removed by evaporation in vacuo to give a gum which was dissolved in methylene chloride , washed with aqueous sodium bicarbonate and brine , dried ( mgso 4 ) and evaporated in vacuo . the residue was purified by column chromatography on silica eluting with methylene chloride containing methanol ( 0 % up to 2 %) and the product - containing fractions were combined and evaporated to dryness in vacuo to afford the title compound as a foam , yield 0 . 27 g . analysis %: found : c , 54 . 5 ; h , 6 . 2 ; n , 9 . 35 ; calculated for c 20 h 27 n 3 o 4 s 2 : c , 54 . 9 ; h , 6 . 2 ; n , 9 . 6 . &# 39 ; h - n . m . r . ( cdcl 3 ): δ = 7 . 2 ( q , 4h ); 7 . 15 ( d , 1h ); 7 . 1 ( s , 1h ); 7 . 0 ( d , 1h ); 3 . 45 ( t , 1h ); 3 . 05 ( m , 2h ); 3 . 0 ( d , 6h ); 2 . 95 ( m , 2h ); 2 . 90 ( m , 2h ); 2 . 85 ( m , 2h ); 2 . 4 ( s , 3h ). methanesulphonyl chloride ( 0 . 53 ml ) was added to 5 - amino - 2 -[ n -( 4 - aminobenzyl )- n - methylamino ] indane ( 1 . 1 g ) in pyridine and the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 17 hours . the solvent was then removed by evaportion in vacuo and the residue taken up in methylene chloride , washed with aqueous sodium bicarbonate , dried ( mgso 4 ) and evaporated in vacuo . the resulting gum was purified by column chromatography on silica eluting with methylene chloride containing methanol ( 0 % up to 2 %). the product - containing fractions were combined and evaporated to dryness in vacuo to give the title compound as a colourless foam . this foam was dissolved in chloroform and the solution was evaporated to dryness in vacuo to give the title compound as a colourless foam , yield 0 . 2 g . analysis %: found : c , 54 . 0 ; h , 6 . 0 ; n , 9 . 5 ; calculated for c 19 h 25 n 3 o 4 . 2 / 3 chcl 3 *: c , 53 . 9 ; h , 5 . 9 ; n , 9 . 6 . &# 39 ; h - n . m . r . ( tfad ): δ = 7 . 72 ( s , 1h ); 7 . 63 ( t , 1h ); 7 . 45 ( d , 2h ); 7 . 4 ( t , 2h ); 7 . 3 ( s , 1h ); 4 . 8 ( d , 1h ); 4 . 5 ( m , 1h ); 4 . 35 ( d , 1h ); 3 . 6 ( m , 4h ); 3 . 2 ( d , 6h ); 2 . 9 ( d , 3h ). the following preparations , in which all temperatures are in ° c ., illustrate the preparation of the starting materials used in the examples : acetic anhydride ( 40 ml ) and formic acid ( 20 ml ) were mixed and heated at 50 ° for 15 minutes with stirring . 2 - aminoindane hydrochloride ( 25 g ) ( see j . med . chem ., 1980 , 23 , page 745 ) and sodium acetate ( 20 g ) were added to this mixture which was then stirred at room temperature for 24 hours . the reaction mixture was poured into ice / water and extracted three times with methylene chloride . the combined organic layers were washed with water and aqueous sodium carbonate , dried ( mgso 4 ) and evaporated in vacuo to give the title compound , yield 17 . 6 g , m . p . 72 °- 74 °. analysis %: found : c , 74 . 25 ; h , 7 . 0 ; n , 8 . 6 ; calculated for c 10 h 11 no : c , 74 . 5 ; h , 6 . 9 ; n , 8 . 7 . &# 39 ; h - n . m . r . ( cdcl 3 ): δ = 8 . 0 ( s , 1h ); 7 . 1 ( s , 4h ); 4 . 7 ( m , 1h ); 3 . 4 ( dd , 2h ); 2 . 8 ( dd , 2h ). 2 - formylaminoindane ( 15 g ) was added portionwise to fuming nitric acid ( 30 ml , density = 1 . 5 g / ml ) whilst keeping the temperature at between 0 ° and - 5 °. stirring was continued for 1 hour at 0 ° before pouring the reaction mixture onto ice / water and extracting with methylene chloride . the organic layer was washed with aqueous sodium bicarbonate , dried ( mgso 4 ) and evaporated in vacuo to give an oil which was purified by column chromatography on silica eluting with methylene chloride containing hexane ( 20 % down to 0 %) and then methylene chloride containing methanol ( 0 % up to 2 %). the product - containing fractions were combined and evaporated to give the title compound , yield 7 . 7 g , m . p . 91 °- 92 °. analysis %: found : c , 58 . 1 ; h , 4 . 8 ; n , 13 . 5 ; calculated for c 10 h 10 n 2 o 3 : c , 58 . 25 ; h , 4 . 9 ; n , 13 . 6 . acetic acid ( 6 . 4 ml ) was added dropwise to a stirred mixture of 2 - formylamino - 5 - nitroindane ( 4 . 6 g ) and sodium borohydride ( 4 . 22 g ) in tetrahydrofuran ( 65 ml ) cooled to 0 °- 5 °. stirring was continued at 0 °- 5 ° for 15 minutes before heating the reaction mixture at reflux for 2 hours . the reaction mixture was then evaporated to dryness in vacuo and the residue was diluted with 2m hydrochloric acid , then made basic ( to a ph of about 12 ) with aqueous sodium carbonate and extracted with methylene chloride . the organic layer was dried ( mgso 4 ), evaporated in vacuo and the residue stirred with ethereal hydrogen chloride to afford a precipitate which was filtered and dried to give the title compound , yield 1 . 5 g , m . p . 221 °- 223 °. analysis %: found : c , 52 . 75 ; h , 5 . 6 ; n , 12 . 15 ; calculated for c 10 h 12 n 2 o 2 . hcl : c , 52 . 5 ; h , 5 . 7 ; n , 12 . 25 . 2 - methylamino - 5 - nitroindane hydrochloride ( 0 . 46 g ), 2 - bromoethoxy - 4 - nitrobenzene ( 0 . 49 g ) [ see c . a ., ( 1960 ), 54 , 11046a ] and potassium carbonate ( 2 g ) were heated under reflux in acetonitrile ( 50 ml )/ ethanol ( 20 ml ) for 20 hours . the solvent was then removed by evaporation in vacuo and the residue diluted with water and extracted with methylene chloride . the organic layer was dried ( mgso 4 ) and evaporated to give an oil which was purified by column chromatography on silica eluting with methylene chloride containing methanol ( 0 % up to 1 %). the product - containing fractions were combined and evaporated to give the title compound as an oil , yield 0 . 28 g . &# 39 ; h - n . m . r . ( cdcl 3 ): δ = 8 . 0 ( d , 2h ); 7 . 9 ( m , 2h ); 7 . 2 ( d , 1h ); 6 . 8 ( d , 2h ); 4 . 1 ( t , 2h ); 3 . 4 ( m , 1h ); 2 . 9 ( br d , 4h ); 2 . 8 ( t , 2h ); 2 . 3 ( s , 3h ). a solution of 2 -[ n - methyl - n -( 2 -{ 4 - nitrophenoxy } ethyl ) amino ]- 5 - nitroindane ( 0 . 3 g ) in ethyl acetate ( 30 ml ) containing 5 % pd / c ( 0 . 03 g ) was stirred under a hydrogen atmosphere [ 206 . 8 kpa ( 30 p . s . i .)] for 2 hours at room temperature . the catalyst was then removed by filtration and the filtrate evaporated in vacuo to afford the title compound as a gum , yield 0 . 25 g , which was used directly without further purification . 2 - methylamino - 5 - nitroindane hydrochloride ( 0 . 45 g ), 4 - nitrophenethyl bromide ( 0 . 46 g ) and potassium carbonate ( 2 g ) were heated under reflux in acetonitrile ( 30 ml ) for 3 days . the reaction mixture was then filtered , the filtrate evaporated in vacuo , and the residue purified by column chromatography on silica eluting with methylene chloride containing methanol ( 0 % up to 1 %). the product - containing fractions were combined and evaporated in vacuo to give a gum which was crystallised from ethanol affording the title compound , yield 0 . 16 g , m . p . 138 °- 141 °. analysis %: found : c , 62 . 8 ; h , 5 . 5 , n , 12 . 1 ; calculated for c 18 h 19 n 3 o 4 : c , 63 . 3 ; h , 5 . 6 ; n , 12 . 3 . &# 39 ; h - n . m . r . ( cdcl 3 ): δ = 8 . 2 ( d , 2h ); 8 . 1 ( d , 1h ); 8 . 05 ( s , 1h ); 7 . 4 ( d , 2h ); 7 . 3 ( d , 1h ); 3 . 5 ( t , 1h ); 3 . 15 ( q , 2h ); 2 . 9 ( m , 4h ); 2 . 8 ( t , 2h ); 2 . 4 ( s , 3h ). 2 - indanone ( 2 . 8 g ), n - methyl - 4 - nitrophenethylamine ( 3 . 83 g ) [ see j . o . c ., ( 1956 ), 21 , 45 ] and toluene - 4 - sulphonic acid ( 0 . 1 g ) in toluene ( 100 ml ) were heated under reflux in a dean and stark apparatus for 1 hour by which time all the water produced ( approximately 0 . 4 ml ) had been collected by azeotroping . the solvent was then evaporated in vacuo and the residue dissolved in ethanol ( 100 ml ) to which was added sodium borohydride ( 0 . 8 g ) and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 6 hours . the mixture was then heated at reflux temperature for 10 minutes , cooled and evaporated to dryness in vacuo . the residue was added to 2m hydrochloric acid ( 150 ml ) with stirring , and after a 1 / 2 hour , a semi - solid precipitate was filtered off and the filtrate washed with ether and dried to give the title compound , yield 1 . 2 g , m . p . 201 °- 203 °. analysis %: found : c , 64 . 95 ; h , 6 . 4 ; n , 8 . 4 ; calculated for c 18 h 20 n 2 o 2 . hcl : c , 64 . 85 ; h , 6 . 45 ; n , 8 . 3 . &# 39 ; h - n . m . r . ( dmso d 6 ): δ = 8 . 3 ( d , 2h ); 7 . 6 ( d , 2h ); 7 . 2 ( q , 4h ); 4 . 2 ( quintet , 1h ); 3 . 4 ( m , 8h ); 2 . 8 ( d , 3h ). 2 -[ n - methyl - n -( 4 - nitrophenethyl ) amino ] indane hydrochloride ( 1 . 2 g ) was added portionwise over 10 minutes to fuming nitric acid ( 20 ml , density = 1 . 5 g / ml ) cooled to - 5 °. stirring was continued for a further 2 minutes before the reaction mixture was poured into ice / water . the water - containing mixture was extracted with methylene chloride and the organic extract was washed with aqueous sodium bicarbonate , dried ( mgso 4 ) and evaporated to dryness in vacuo . the residue was rectystallised from ethanol to give the title compound , yield 0 . 78 g , m . p . 138 °- 140 °. a solution of 2 -[ n - methyl - n -( 4 - nitrophenethyl ) amino ]- 5 - nitroindane ( 0 . 5 g ) in ethyl acetate / methanol ( 40 ml / 10 ml ) containing 5 % pd / c ( 0 . 05 g ) was stirred under a hydrogen atmosphere [ 206 . 8 kpa ( 30 psi )] for 4 hours at room temperature . the catalyst was then removed by filtration and the filtrate evaporated in vacuo to give a gum which was triturated with ether . the ether was decanted and evaporated to dryness in vacuo to give the title compound , yield 0 . 33 g . a small sample was taken and recrystallised from diisopropyl ether , m . p . 112 °- 114 °. analysis %: found : c , 76 . 6 ; h , 8 . 3 ; n , 14 . 6 ; calculated for c 18 h 23 n 3 : c , 76 . 8 ; h , 8 . 2 ; n , 14 . 9 . &# 39 ; h - n . m . r . ( cdcl 3 ): δ = 7 . 05 ( d , 2h ); 7 . 0 ( d , 1h ); 6 . 7 ( d , 2h ); 6 . 55 ( s , 1h ); 6 . 5 ( d , 1h ); 3 . 6 ( br s , 4h ); 3 . 4 ( quintet , 1h ); 3 . 0 ( m , 2h ); 2 . 8 ( m , 2h ); 2 . 7 ( d , 4h ); 2 . 4 ( s , 3h ). a solution of 2 - indanone ( 5 . 28 g ), n - benzylmethylamine ( 4 . 84 g ) and 4 - toluenesulphonic acid ( 0 . 15 g ) in toluene ( 120 ml ) was heated under reflux in a dean and stark apparatus for 11 / 2 hours by which time all the water produced ( approximately 0 . 8 ml ) had been collected by azeotroping . the solvent was then evaporated in vacuo and the residue dissolved in ethanol ( 150 ml ) to which was added sodium borohydride ( 1 . 6 g ) and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 17 hours . the solvent was then evaporated in vacuo and the residue carefully diluted with 2m hydrochloric acid ( 200 ml ). the acid solution was extracted twice with methylene chloride ( 2 × 100 ml ) and the combined organic extracts were evaporated in vacuo to give a residue which was triturated with isopropanol and the resulting precipitate filtered off and dried to afford the title compound , yield 2 . 5 g , m . p . 204 °- 206 °. analysis %: found : c , 74 . 1 ; h , 7 . 4 ; n , 5 . 0 ; calculated for c 17 h 19 n . hcl : c , 74 . 6 ; h , 7 . 4 ; n , 5 . 1 . &# 39 ; h - n . m . r . ( cdcl 3 ): δ = 7 . 7 ( dd , 2h ); 7 . 5 ( m , 3h ); 7 . 15 ( q , 4h ); 4 . 4 ( q , 1h ); 4 . 15 ( q , 1h ); 4 . 05 ( quintet , 1h ); 3 . 8 ( q , 1h ); 3 . 6 ( q , 1h ); 3 . 5 ( q , 1h ); 3 . 25 ( q , 1h ); 2 . 6 ( d , 3h ). 2 - methylaminoindane ( 0 . 65 g ) ( see j . med . chem ., 1980 , 23 , page 745 ), benzyl bromide ( 0 . 6 g ) and potassium carbonate ( 1 . 0 g ) were heated under reflux in acetonitrile for 8 hours . the reaction mixture was then filtered and evaporated to dryness in vacuo . the resulting oil was dissolved in ethyl acetate , diluted with ethereal hydrogen chloride and the precipitate collected by filtration and recrystallised from isopropanol to give the title compound , yield 0 . 5 g , m . p . 204 °- 206 °. 2 -[ n - benzyl - n - methylamino ] indane hydrochloride ( 2 . 6 g ) was added portionwise over 10 minutes to fuming nitric acid ( 25 ml ) cooled to - 5 °. stirring was continued for a further 2 minutes before the reaction mixture was poured into ice / water . the water was decanted off to leave a gum which was taken up in methylene chloride , washed with water and saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate , dried ( mgso 4 ) and evaporated in vacuo to give the title compound , yield 2 . 4 g . a sample ( 0 . 1 g ) was dissolved in ether and treated with ethereal hydrogen chloride . the resulting precipitate was collected by filtration and dried to give the hydrochloride salt of the title compound , m . p . 210 °- 212 °. analysis %: found : c , 55 . 2 ; h , 5 . 0 ; n , 11 . 2 ; calculated for c 17 h 17 n 3 o 4 . hcl . 1 / 2h 2 o : c , 54 . 8 ; h , 5 . 1 ; n , 11 . 3 . &# 39 ; h - n . m . r . ( tfad ): δ = 8 . 8 ( s , 1h ); 8 . 7 ( t , 1h ); 8 . 35 ( d , 2h ); 8 . 1 ( d , 1h ); 7 . 9 ( m , 1h ); 7 . 6 ( d , 1h ); 5 . 0 ( d , 1h ); 4 . 7 ( m , 1h ); 4 . 6 ( d , 1h ); 3 . 8 ( m , 4h ); 3 . 0 ( s , 3h ). 2 -[ n - methyl - n -( 4 - nitrobenzyl ) amino ]- 5 - nitroindane ( 2 . 3 g ) in ethyl acetate ( 60 ml ) containing 5 % pd / c ( 0 . 25 g ) was stirred under a hydrogen atmosphere [ 206 . 8 kpa ( 30 psi )] for 1 hour at room temperature . the catalyst was then removed by filtration and the filtrate was evaporated to dryness in vacuo . the residue was purified by column chromatography on silica eluting with methylene chloride containing methanol ( 0 % up to 1 %). the product - containing fractions were combined and evaporated to give the title compound ( 1 . 1 g ) as an oil which was used directly without further purification .
novel 5 - alkanesulphonamido - 2 -- n - methylamino ] indane and 5 - alkanesulphonamido - 2 -- n - methylamino ] indane compounds have been prepared , including their pharmaceutically acceptable salts and various key novel intermediates therefor . these compounds are useful in therapy as anti - arrhythmic agents and therefore , are of value in the treatment of various cardiac arrhythmias . the most preferred member compouned is 5 - methanesulphonamido - 2 -- n - methylamino ] indane . methods for preparing these compounds from known starting materials are provided .