Structure-activity relationship studies of CNS agents. Part VII. The effect of the imidazole fragment in 2-substituted 1-[3-(4-aryl-1-piperazinyl)propyl]imidazoles on their interaction modes with 5-HT1A and 5-HT2 receptors.

The synthesis and the 5-HT1A and 5-HT2 receptor affinity of 2-substituted 1-[3-(4-aryl-1-piperazinyl)propyl]-imidazoles (1-8) has been described. It has been shown that both the N-3 imidazole atom and the N-1 piperazine one should be considered as possible protonation centers under physiological conditions. It has been found that the folded conformations of 1-8 exist predominantly in solution. Moreover, three different modes of interaction of the analyzed compounds with 5-HT1A and 5-HT2 receptor sites have been proposed.