Pyrazolopyrimidine

The Pyrazolopyrimidines are a class of sedative and anxiolytic drugs related (in terms of their effect) to benzodiazepines.

Most of the drugs from this class marketed to date are intended to induce sleep, and are prescribed for people suffering insomnia, however some newer compounds produce anxiolytic effects with relatively little sedation, and are being developed for use as non-sedating anti-anxiety drugs.

They include:


 * Zaleplon (trade name Sonata)
 * Indiplon
 * Ocinaplon

As they are not chemically related to the benzodiazepines despite their similar effect, such drugs—as well as the imidazopyridines and cyclopyrrones—are sometimes grouped together and referred to as "nonbenzodiazepines".

Insecticide
A related use is in pyrazolopyrimidine organothiophosphate insecticides.

Structure
The molecules are typified by the linked six sided (benzene) and sometimes five sided rings (methylpyrazol).