The synthesis of both the piperazine and the homopiperazine analogs that are described in Tables - 4 was achieved via amide bond coupling of the corresponding 3-[(4-oxo-3H-phthalazin-1-yl)methyl]benzoic acid 7 or 2-fluoro-5-[(4-oxo-3H-phthalazin-1-yl)methyl]benzoic acid 8 (Scheme 1). The synthesis of corresponding intermediate 7 is outlined in Scheme 1. The nucleophilic addition of 3Hisobenzofuran-1-one 1 to 3-formyl-benzonitrile 2 in the presence of sodium methoxide provided 3-(1,3-dioxoinden-2-yl)benzonitrile 3 in good yield.