DisGosed herein are tetrahydro-benzo [e] isoindolines useful in the treatment of hypertension, which are represented by the formula
wherein R, R,, and R 2 are independently selected from hydrogen, hydroxy, loweralkoxy of 1 to 3 carbon atoms, loweralkenyloxy of 1 to 3 carbon atoms, benzyloxy, benzoyloxy, thiomethyl, halo, or
wherein R. and R 5 are independently selected from hydrogen, loweracyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms or sulfonyl of the formula
wherein R 6 is loweralkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms; or R and R,, or R, and R 2 can be taken together to form a methylenedioxy or ethylenedioxy bridge; with the proviso that at least one of R, R, or R 2 must be other than hydrogen; and R 3 is hydrogen; loweralkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms; halo-substituted loweralkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms; arylalkyl of the formula
wherein m is 0, 1 or 2, p is 0 or 1, R 7 is hydrogen or loweralkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms and R 8 and R 9 are independently selected from hydrogen, hydroxy, methoxy, loweralkyl of 1. to 4 carbon atoms, or halo, or R, and R 9 can be taken together to form a methylendioxy or ethylenedioxy bridge; or 1,4-benzodioxan.