Intermediates in the synthesis of novel (1-phenyl-1-heterocyclyl) methanol and (1-phenyl-1-heterocyclyl)methylamine derivatives

A compound of formula (6) ##STR9## wherein X is O, S or Se; R.sub.1 is H, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy-lower alkyl, aryl-lower alkyl or CF.sub.3 ; R.sub.2 is H, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy-lower alkyl, aryl-lower alkyl or CF.sub.3 ; Ar is phenyl, furyl, thienyl, naphthyl, pyridyl or pyrrolyl, optionally substituted by R.sub.6 ; and R.sub.6 is one or more groups selected from lower alkyl, lower acyl, halogen, lower alkoxy, CF.sub.3, OH, NO.sub.2 or NR.sub.4 R.sub.5, wherein R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 independently are H, lower alkyl or lower acyl, with the provisos that when R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are both hydrogen and Ar represents phenyl, then Ar is substituted by R.sub.6 ; and that the following five compounds are excluded: 2-methyl-5-thiazolyl phenyl ketone; phenyl 2-phenylmethyl-4-oxazolyl ketone; 4-bromophenyl 5-thiazolyl ketone; 4-methyl-5-thiazolyl phenyl ketone; and 4-methoxyphenyl 4-methyl-5-thiazolyl ketone.