The limitations of established serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE) reuptake inhibitors necessitate the development of safer and more effective therapeutic agents. Based on the structures of 4-benzylpiperidine carboxamides and trazodone, arylpiperazine–benzylpiperidines with chemical scaffolds different from those of marketed drugs were designed, synthesized, and evaluated
Dual action compounds are provided that are inhibitors of catechol-omethyltransferase (COMT) enzyme and are also partial agonists or antagonists of the D2 receptor, or agonists of the D1 receptor, or interact in these ways with both D1 and D2 receptors. Use of the compounds for treating neuropsychiatric disorders, particularly schizophrenia and mild cognitive impairment, is also described.