PF-06412562, also known as CVL-562, is a moderately potent and highly selective dopamine D<sub>1</sub> and D<sub>5</sub> receptor partial agonist which is under development for the treatment of the cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia. It is taken orally. The drug has been reported to produce pro-motivational effects in humans. PF-06412562 is under development by Pfizer and Cerevel Therapeutics. As of August 2025, it is in phase 1/2 clinical trials. The drug was also under development for the treatment of Parkinson's disease and cognition disorders, but development for these indications was discontinued. Its development for Parkinson's disease was discontinued for business reasons unrelated to safety in 2017.
The chemical synthesis was described (Ex 6):
Protection of 4-Chloro-1H-pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridine [871836-51-0] (1) with 2,3-Dihydropyran [110-87-2] (2) gives 4-chloro-1-(oxan-2-yl)-1H-pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridine [1416713-66-0] (3). Suzuki reaction between 4-Methoxy-2-methylphenylboronic acid pinacol ester [214360-68-6] (4) and 5-Bromo-4,6-dimethylpyrimidine [157335-97-2] (5) gives 5-(4-methoxy-2-methylphenyl)-4,6-dimethylpyrimidine [1609259-54-2] (6). Demethylation of the ether gives rise to 4-(4,6-dimethylpyrimidin-5-yl)-3-methylphenol [1609259-55-3] (7). Reaction of this with 3 gives 4-[4-(4,6-dimethylpyrimidin-5-yl)-3-methylphenoxy]-1-(oxan-2-yl)pyrazolo[4,5-c]pyridine, PC90116929 (8). TetramethylâÂÂdiâÂÂtBuXPhos [857356-94-6] is a bulky, electronâÂÂrich biaryl monophosphine ligand used in palladiumâÂÂcatalysed crossâÂÂcoupling reactions. Deprotection of the THP protecting group in acid completed the synthesis of PF2562 (9).