A flexible, multistep parallel synthesis of spiperone analogues is describe
d. A library of 4-substituted piperidines, assembled utilizing reductive am
ination and acylation protocols, was alkylated either homogeneously or hete
rogeneously, exploiting a product release only concept, to afford an era-se
ries of spiperone analogues. Screening of the products at 5-HT2 and D-2 rec
eptors revealed 5-HT2A antagonists with improved selectivity compared to sp
iperone and AIMI-193. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.