This invention provides O-alpha-acyloxyalkyl ethers of the venlafaxine metabolite 4-[2-(Dimethylamino-1-(1-hydroxycyclohexyl)ethyl)phenol, represented by Formula (I); wherein the configuration at the steriogenic center (*) may be R, S, or RS (the racemate); R1 is selected from C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy, C3-C6 cycloalkyl, or the moiety: (a); R2 is selected from H, or C1-C6 alkyl; or, R1 and R2 may be concatenated such that (i), form a moiety having formula (b); R3 is selected from H or C1-C6 alkyl; and R4 and R5 are independently selected from H, C1-C6 alkyl, C3-C6 cycloalkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy, C1-C6 thioalkoxy, -CN, -OH, -CF3, -OCF3, halogen, -NH2, -NO2, or mono or dialkylamino wherein each alkyl group has 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or hydrates thereof, R, S, or RS forms thereof; as well as pharmaceutical compositions and methods treating central nervous system disorders. |