The synthesis of analogues of the antipsychotic drug butaclamol bearing chloro substituents on the benzene rings is described. On the basis of a perceived topographical similarity of a putative chlorophenylethylamine pharmacophore present in these analogues and in VUFB-10032 and doclothepin, agents related to octoclothepin which do not induce catalepsy, they have been tested for "noncataleptic" neuroleptic activity. None of the butaclamol analogues exhibit this type of activity. Depending on the position of the chlorine, the analogues either retained butaclamol-like activity or were inactive.