This invention relates to benzimidazoles, pyridylimidazoles and related bicyclic
heteroaryl compounds, all of which may be described by of Formula I
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The invention is particularly related to such compounds that bind with high selectivity
and high affinity to the benzodiazepine site of GABAA receptors. This
invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds
and to the use of such compounds in treatment of certain central nervous system
(CNS) diseases. Novel processes for preparing compounds of Formula I are disclosed.
This invention also relates to the use of benzimidazoles, pyridylimidazoles
and related bicyclic heteroaryl compounds of Formula I in combination with one
or more other CNS agents to potentiate the effects of the other CNS agents. Additionally
this invention relates to the use such compounds as probes for the localization
of GABAA receptors in tissue sections.
