Synthesis of new piperazinyl indolyl propanones and preliminary CNS pharmacological evaluation in mice

In a continuing progamme to discover antipsychotic agents with a reduced pr opensity toward extrapyramidal side effects, the synthesis of a series of n ovel piperazinyl indolyl propanones by a mannich reaction is described. The se compounds were evaluated for their dopaminergic (D-1/D-2) and serotonerg ic (5-HT2) receptor antagonism in a preliminary in vivo pharmacological eva luation in mice and have shown antagonism to the dopaminergic (D-1/D-2) rec eptor, but failed to antagonize the serotonergic (5-HT2) receptor to a sign ificant extent.