Hetero-halo inhibitors of histone deacetylase

This invention provides compounds that are inhibitors of HDAC2. The compounds (e.g., compounds according to Formula I, II or any of Compounds 100-128 or any of those in Tables 2 or 3) accordingly are useful for treating, alleviating, or preventing a condition in a subject such as a neurological disorder, memory or cognitive function disorder or impairment, extinction learning disorder, fungal disease or infection, inflammatory disease, hematological disease, or neoplastic disease, or for improving memory or treating, alleviating, or preventing memory loss or impairment.