BICYCLIC BENZAZEPINE DERIVATIVES AS VASOPRESSIN ANTAGONISTS

This invention relates to bicyclic non-peptide vasopressin antagonists useful in treating conditions where decreased vasopressin levels are desired, in conditions with excess renal water reabsorption and in conditions with increased vascular resistance and coronary vasoconstriction, the compounds of this invention having the core structure of wherein: E-Y is selected from the moieties -CH=CH-, -CH2CH2-, and the moiety includes an optionally substituted, fused 6-membered heterocyclic aromatic ring containing two nitrogen atoms, a fused 5-membered heterocyclic aromatic ring containing either a) one heteroatom selected from O, S or N; b) two N atoms; or one N atom and one O or S atom; and R1, R2, R3 and Rb are as defined herein.