Seven-membered systems of pharmacological significance

Pharmacologically active compounds incorporating 7-membered heterocyclic components continue to flourish. 

Antidepressant heterocycles including mianserin (a dibenzoazepine), mirtazepine (a benzo[pyrido]azepine) and methiothepin (a dibenzothiepine) increase the lifespan of 

Examples of seven-membered heterocycles with significant antiviral activity include imidazo[4,5-e][l,3]diazepine-4,8-diones with anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) activity 07BMCL2225 07BMC4933 and benzo(indolo)fused 1,4-oxazepine derivatives as HCV RNA polymerase inhibitors that show excellent replicon potency 07BMCL3181 . Novel 2-chloro-8-[(arylthio)methyl]dipyridodiazepinone derivatives show activity against HIV-1 

In the fields of allergy and respiration, examples include 2-oxo-3-aminoazepine derivatives which act as dual neurokinin (tachykinin) NK1/NK2 receptor probes for development of options for treatment of asthsma and other airway diseases 07BMCL890 and benzo[l, 5]diazepine derivatives as new non-steroidal inhibitors of 17-P-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, an enzyme associated with hormone-dependent and neuronal diseases 07JEIMC29 . 

Tri-and tetra-hydroxyazepanes were shown to be potent glycosidase inhibitors 07JOC4258 while isofagomine tetrahydroxyazepane hybrids were synthesised as 0-glucosidase or mannosidase inhibitors 07CC183 . 

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While some new spirocyclic and bridged seven-membered heterocyclic systems were reported in 2000, the scope in these two areas is significant, particularly with respect to the design of pharmacologically active compounds with new molecular architectures. Further developments in these areas are thus expected. 

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