A series of thiazole based 5HT(7) ligands has been identified from screening. Optimisation of the pendent aryl group and modification of the core gave a related series of high affinity, selective thiopyridine based 5HT(7) ligands, the most active of which behaves as a partial agonist.
Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Merck Sharp & Dohme Research Laboratories, The Neuroscience Research Centre, Terlings Park, Harlow, Essex CM20 2QR, UK. christopher_thomson@merck.com