Described herein are antipyschotic compounds of formula (I) wherein, A is an optionally benzo-fused five or six member aromatic ring having zero to three hetero atoms independently selected from N, O, and S; Alk is (C<SUB>1-4</SUB>) alkylene optionally substituted with OH, methoxy, ethoxy, or F; Ar is optionally substituted phenyl, naphthyl, monocyclic heteroaromatic, or bicyclic heteroaromatic; R<SUP>1 </SUP>is hydrogen or (C<SUB>1-4</SUB>) alkyl optionally substituted with OH, OR<SUP>3</SUP>, or OCH<SUB>2</SUB>CH<SUB>2</SUB>OH, wherein R<SUP>3 </SUP>is (C<SUB>1-2</SUB>) alkyl; R<SUP>2 </SUP>is H, (C<SUB>1-6</SUB>) alkyl, halogen, fluorinated (C<SUB>1-6</SUB>) alkyl, OR<SUP>4</SUP>, SR<SUP>4</SUP>, NO<SUB>2</SUB>, CN, COR<SUP>4</SUP>, CONR<SUP>5</SUP>R<SUP>6</SUP>, SO<SUB>2</SUB>NR<SUP>5</SUP>R<SUP>6</SUP>, NR<SUP>5</SUP>R<SUP>6</SUP>, NR<SUP>5</SUP>COR<SUP>4</SUP>, NR<SUP>5</SUP>SO<SUB>2</SUB>R<SUP>4</SUP>, or optionally substituted phenyl, wherein R<SUP>4 </SUP>is hydrogen, (C<SUB>1-6</SUB>) alkyl, fluorinated (C<SUB>1-6</SUB>) alkyl, or optionally substituted phenyl, R<SUP>5 </SUP>and R<SUP>6 </SUP>are independently hydrogen, (C<SUB>1-6</SUB>) alkyl, or optionally substituted phenyl; Z is one or two substituents independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, (C<SUB>1-6</SUB>) alkyl, fluorinated (C<SUB>1-6</SUB>) alkyl, OR<SUP>7</SUP>, SR<SUP>7</SUP>, NO<SUB>2</SUB>, CN, COR<SUP>7</SUP>, CONR<SUP>8</SUP>R<SUP>9</SUP>, SO<SUB>2</SUB>NR<SUP>8</SUP>R<SUP>9</SUP>, NR<SUP>8</SUP>SO<SUB>2</SUB>R<SUP>7</SUP>, NR<SUP>8</SUP>R<SUP>9</SUP>, or optionally substituted phenyl, wherein R<SUP>7 </SUP>is hydrogen, (C<SUB>1-6</SUB>) alkyl, fluorinated alkyl, or optionally substituted phenyl, R<SUP>8 </SUP>and R<SUP>9 </SUP>are independently hydrogen, (C<SUB>1-6</SUB>) alkyl, or optionally substituted phenyl; and salts, solvates, and crystal forms thereof. Also described are the use of the compounds of formula (I) as antagonists of the dopamine D<SUB>2 </SUB>receptor and as agents for the treatment of psychosis and bipolar disorder, and pharmaceutical formulations of the compounds of formula (I).
Piperazine substituted aryl benzodiazepines and their use as dopamine receptor antagonists for the treatment of psychotic disorders