METHOD OF PREPARING INDOLE DERIVATIVES OR THEIR SALTS

The compounds of formula I wherein R is a group wherein A is C2-5 alkylene, X is a bond, oxygen or sulfur, R3 is hydrogen, hydroxy, C1-4 alkoxy, halogen of atomic number of from 9 to 35, cyano, carbamoyl or a group NHCORd, wherein Rd is C1-4 alkyl, and R4 is hydrogen and, when R3 is C1-4 alkoxy, R4 additionally may be C1-4 alkoxy or, when R3 is halogen of atomic number of from 9 to 35, R4 additionally may be halogen of atomic number of from 9 to 35 either i) R1 is hydrogen or methyl and R2 is cyano, CONRaRb, COORc or CH2ORe, wherein Ra, Rb, Rc and Re independently are hydrogen or C1-4 alkyl, or ii) either R1 is methyl and R2 is Cl or Br or R1 is Cl or Br and R2 is hydrogen or methyl, with the provisos that a) X is separated from the nitrogen atom of the 3-amino-2-hydroxy-propoxy chain by at least 2 carbon atoms, b) when X is a bond, P3 is other than hydrogen and c) when R2 is cyano, R additionally may be C3-7 alkyl are useful as alpha - and beta -adrenoceptor blocking, anti-arrhythmic and anti- hypertensive agents and as inhibitors of metabolic effects of emotional stress.