Question

Which of the following is a representative structure of the butyrophenone class?

• A. Chlorpromazine
• B. Thioridazine
• C. Timolol
• D. Haloperidol

Hint:

Antipsychotic drugs are grouped by their chemical skeleton. One important group is the butyrophenones. The most famous and classic example of this group is Haloperidol.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: What are butyrophenones?
Butyrophenones are a chemical class of antipsychotic drugs. Their core structure is a 4-carbon chain (butyl) with a ketone group (phenone) attached to a fluorine-substituted benzene and a piperidine or piperazine ring.

Step 2: Identify Haloperidol.
Haloperidol is the prototype butyrophenone antipsychotic. It is a potent dopamine D₂ receptor antagonist used to treat schizophrenia and mania. Its structure clearly shows the butyrophenone scaffold.

Step 3: Eliminate wrong options.
Chlorpromazine and thioridazine belong to the phenothiazine class of antipsychotics, not butyrophenones. Timolol is a beta-blocker (propanolamine class) used for glaucoma and hypertension. None of these are butyrophenones.

Step 4: Practical tip.
Drugs ending in "-peridol" (haloperidol, droperidol) are typically butyrophenones. This naming pattern helps identify them quickly in exams.

Step 5: Confirm.
Haloperidol is the textbook representative of the butyrophenone class.

Answer: Option (4) — Haloperidol