New 3-benzisothiazolyl and 3-benzisoxazolylpiperazine derivatives with atypical antipsychotic binding profile.

New 3-benzisothiazolyl and 3-benzisoxazolylpiperazine derivatives were synthesised and their 5-HT(1A), 5-HT(2A) and D(2) receptor binding affinities evaluated. The compounds displayed high affinity for the 5-HT(2A) receptor combined with moderate to low 5-HT(1A) and D(2) affinities. Two of them, 18 and 25, have been selected for further pharmacological studies to be evaluated as potential atypical antipsychotics. Copyright 2002 Editions scienctifiques et médicales Elsevier SAS