Anxiolytic agents with reduced sedative and ataxic effects

1. A compound of formula V, or a salt thereof,

wherein:

Y and Z are taken together with the two intervening carbon atoms to form a phenyl ring, which is substituted at the C(8) position with at least the substituent —C≡C—R, where R is H, Si(CH 3 ) 3 , t-butyl, isopropyl, methyl, or cyclopropyl;

R 1 is one of H, CH 3 , CF 3 , CH 2 CF 3 , CH 2 CH 3 , CH 2 C≡CH, or cyclopropyl;

R 2 is a substituted or unsubstituted at least partially unsaturated 5 membered or 6 membered carbocyclic ring or 5 membered or 6 membered heterocyclic ring having at least one heteroatom selected from N, O and S, wherein if substituted the substituent is one or more of F, Cl, Br, or NO 2 at the 2′-position;

R 5 is a branched or straight chain C 1 to C 4 halogenated or unhalogenated alkyl or a methyl cyclopropyl.

2. A compound of formula VI, or a salt thereof,

wherein:

Y and Z are taken together with the two intervening carbon atoms to form a phenyl ring, which is substituted at the C(8) position with at least the substituent

—C≡C—R, where R is H, Si(CH 3 ) 3 , t-butyl, isopropyl, methyl, or cyclopropyl;

R 1 is one of H, CH 3 , CF 3 , CH 2 CH 3 , CH 2 CF 3 , or cyclopropyl;

R 2 is a substituted or unsubstituted at least partially unsaturated 5 membered or 6 membered carbocyclic ring or 5 membered or 6 membered heterocyclic ring having at least one heteroatom selected from N, O and S, wherein if substituted the substituent is one or more of F, Cl, Br, or NO 2 at the 2′-position;

R 6 is a branched or straight chain C 1 to C 4 alkyl or a methyl cyclopropyl.

3. A compound of formula IX, or a salt thereof,

wherein:

n is 0 to 4;

Y and Z are taken together with the two intervening carbon atoms to form a phenyl ring, which is substituted at the C(8) position with at least the substituent

—C≡C—R, where R is H, Si(CH 3 ) 3 , t-butyl, isopropyl, methyl, or cyclopropyl;

Y′ and Z′ are taken together with the two intervening carbon atoms to form a phenyl ring, which is substituted at the C(8)′ position with at least the substituent

—C≡C—R′, where R′ is H, Si(CH 3 ) 3 , t-butyl, isopropyl, methyl, or cyclopropyl;

R 1 and R 1 ′ are independently one of H, CH 3 , CF 3 , CH 2 CF 3 , CH 2 CH 3 , or cyclopropyl;

R 2 and R 2 ′ are independently a substituted or unsubstituted at least partially unsaturated 5 membered or 6 membered carbocyclic ring or 5 membered or 6 membered heterocyclic ring having at least one heteroatom selected from N, O and S, wherein if substituted the substituent is one or more of F, Cl, Br, or NO 2 at the 2′-position.

4. A compound of formula X, or a salt thereof,

wherein:

Y and Z are taken together with the two intervening carbon atoms to form a phenyl ring, which is substituted at the C(8) position with at least the substituent

—C≡C—R, where R is H, Si(CH 3 ) 3 , t-butyl, isopropyl, methyl, or cyclopropyl;

Y′ and Z′ are taken together with the two intervening carbon atoms to form a phenyl ring, which is substituted at the C(8)′ position with at least the substituent

—C≡C—R′, where R′ is H, Si(CH 3 ) 3 , t-butyl, isopropyl, methyl, or cyclopropyl;

R 1 and R 1 ′ are independently one of H, CH 3 , CF 3 , CH 2 CH 3 , CH 2 CF 3 or cyclopropyl;

R 2 and R 2 ′ are independently a substituted or unsubstituted at least partially unsaturated 5 membered or a 6 membered carbocyclic ring or 5 membered or 6 membered heterocyclic ring having at least one heteroatom selected from N, O and S, wherein if substituted the substituent is one or more of F, Cl, Br, or NO 2 at the 2′-position;

B is O or NH and wherein —BCH 2 B— is optionally replaced with —N(R 7 )—N(R 7 )—, where R 7 is one of H, CH 3 , alkyl, or cycloalkyl.

5. A compound of formula XI, or a salt thereof,

wherein:

n is 1 or 2

Y and Z are taken together with the two intervening carbon atoms to form a phenyl ring, which is substituted at the C(8) position with at least the substituent

—C≡C—R, where R is H, Si(CH 3 ) 3 , t-butyl, isopropyl, methyl, or cyclopropyl;

Y′ and Z′ are taken together with the two intervening carbon atoms to form a phenyl ring, which is substituted at the C(8)′ position with at least the substituent

—C≡C—R′, where R′ is H, Si(CH 3 ) 3 , t-butyl, isopropyl, methyl, or cyclopropyl;

R 1 and R 1 ′ are independently one of H, CH 3 , CF 3 , CH 2 CH 3 , CH 2 CF 3 or cyclopropyl;

R 2 and R 2 ′ are independently a substituted or unsubstituted at least partially unsaturated 5 membered or 6 membered carbocyclic ring or 5 membered or 6 membered heterocyclic ring having a heteroatom selected from N, O and S, wherein if substituted the substituent is one or more of F, Cl, Br, or NO 2 at the 2′-position;

B is O, NH, or —N(R 7 )—N(R 7 )—, where R 7 is one of H, CH 3 , alkyl, or cycloalkyl.