In recent years members of the benzothiazepinone class of compounds have generated considerable interest owing to their remarkable diversity of biological activity. In particular, the 2-aryl-1, 5-benzothiazepin-4 (5H)-one skeleton constitutes the framework of several biologically active compounds, eg, antidepressants like Thiazesim,'coronary vasodilators like Diltia~ em,~~~ and antiulcer and antisecretory agents such as BTM-1086.4 ...