Arylalkylpiperazines for use as neuroprotective agents: Arlyalkylpiperazines and neuroprotection

A compound of the general formula A or a or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, wherein: R1 is selected from the group consisting of: C1-C12-alkyl, C3-C12-cycloalkyl, C6- C10-aryl, and C5-C7-heteroaryl; each optionally substituted with halogen, hydroxyl, OCOR3, amino, C1-C6-alkylamino, C1-C6-dialkylamino, C1C6- (halo)alkyl, C1C6-(halo)- alkoxy and/or COOR3; R2 is selected from the group consisting of: C6-C10-aryl and C5-C7-heteroaryl; each optionally substituted with halogen, hydroxyl, OCOR3 amino, C1C6- alkylamino, CrC6-dialkyl- amino, C1-C6-(halo)alkyl, C1C6-(halo)alkoxy and/or COOR3; R3 is independently at each occurrence selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C1-C2-alkyl; and n is an integer from 1 to 10 inclusive.