A new series of N-substituted 4-allyl-4-N-benzylaminopiperidines and spiro[
3H-2-benzazepine-3,4,-piperidines] have been prepared as potential psychoti
c agents from readily available 4-iminopiperidines, by a sequence of reacti
ons that included nucleophilic addition of Grignard reagents and acid-media
ted intramolecular cyclisation. Some of the compounds prepared have been te
sted in albine mice for the spontaneous motor activity.