Starting from compounds previously identified as α1-adrenoceptor antagonists that were also found to bind to the 5-HT1A receptor, in an attempt to separate the two activities, a new series of 5-HT1A receptor agonists was identified and shown to have high potency and/or high selectivity. Of these, compound 13, which combines high selectivity (5-HT1A/α1= 151) and good agonist potency (pD2= 7.82; Emax= 76), was found to be the most interesting.
