Eth­yl 5‐isoprop­oxy‐4‐meth­yl‐β‐carboline‐3‐carboxyl­ate: structural determinants of benzodiazepine‐receptor antagonism

Mol­ecules of the title compound, C₁₈H₂₀N₂O₃, are linked into ribbons by N—H·O and N—H·N hydrogen bonds. Stereochemical comparison with Ro 15‐1788 (viz. eth­yl 8‐fluoro‐5,6‐dihydro‐5‐meth­yl‐6‐oxo‐4H‐imidazo1,5‐a]1,4]benzodiazepine‐3‐carboxyl­ate) has identified three electronegative N and O atoms in the mol­ecule as features likely to be responsible for its activity as a benzodiazepine‐receptor antagonist.