Central nervous system active compounds. III. The synthesis of 4- and 6-substituted caprolactam derivatives by the Schmidt and Beckmann rearrangements

The synthesis is described of hexahydroazepin-2-ones (caprolactams) bearing 1-4 alkyl or aryl groups at C4 and C6 by the Beckmann or Schmidt reactions on the corresponding cyclohex-2-enone. Further evidence for the mechanism of the Beckmann rearrangement of these unsaturated oximes is advanced. The central nervous system activity of the alkylated caprolactams is reported.