The lateral geniculate nucleus strikes back

1-Chloro- or 1-fluoro- derivatives of 5H-dibenzo[a,d]cycloheptenes and 1-chloro- or 1-fluoro- derivatives of 10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cycloheptenes having, at position 5, a basic exocyclic side chain of the formula R1 -CH2-CH2-CH2-N ANGLE XIII CH3 or R1 =CH-CH2-CH2-N ANGLE XIV CH3 wherein R1 is hydrogen or methyl, and intermediates therefor are prepared by alternate procedures. The described end-products are useful, for example, as psychopharmacological antidepressants.