4,6-Di(heteroaryl)-2-(N-methylpiperazino)pyrimidines as New, Potent 5-HT2A Receptor Ligands: A Verification of the Topographic Model

A series of new 4,6-di(heteroaryl)pyrimidines containing an N-methylpiperazino group (6-13) or an ethylenediamine chain (15-20) in position 2 were synthesized and their 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptor affinities were determined. It was shown that the substituent effects on the 5-HT2A affinity are additive and could be described quantitatively. In a behavioral model it was also demonstrated that 6-11 are 5-HT2A receptor antagonists. The molecular modelling results suggested that the distances between the basic nitrogen atom and the two aromatic centers (d1 = 5.2-8.4 Å, d2 = 5.7-8.5 Å, and d3 = 4.6-7.3 Å) define the molecular topography of the 5-HT2A receptor antagonists under study