this invention is directed to compounds having the formula : ## str1 ## wherein : a represents an aromatic or heterocyclic ring having two of its carbon atoms held mutually with the oxazepine , thiazepine or diazepine moiety selected from the group consisting of benzene , naphthalene , a quinoline , a pyridine in any of its four positions , any of which rings are optionally substituted by one or two y radicals selected from the group consisting of halo , loweralkyl , loweralkoxy , diloweralkylamino , nitro , amino , lower acylamino , trilfuoromethyl , phenyl or phenyl substituted by one to three y &# 39 ; groups selected from halo , loweralkyl , loweralkoxy , diloweralkylamino , nitro , amino , loweracylamino or trifluoromethyl , e is selected from oxygen , sulfur or ## str2 ## b is selected from the group consisting of loweralkyl , cycloalkyl or phenyl - loweralkyl wherein phenyl is optionally substituted by one or two radicals selected from halo , loweralkyl , loweralkoxy , nitro or trifuoromethyl , n is 1 or 2 , r 4 and r 5 are selected from hydrogen or loweralkyl , x is halogen selected from chlorine , bromine , cyano or 1 - phthalimido , the optical isomers thereof and the acid addition salts thereof . these compounds are valuable intermediates in the preparation of compounds having antihistaminic utility .