We have studied how the active nucleus of the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 1068 influences the chemistry of its 200 pc circumnuclear disk of molecular gas (CND). Results from new observations made with the IRAM 30m telescope have served for deriving abundances of molecular species such as SiO, CN, HCO+, HOC+, H13CO+ and HCO. These estimates are complemented with a re-evaluation of abundances of HCN, CS and CO, based on previously published observations. We report on the first detection of significant SiO emission in the CND of NGC 1068. We also report on the first extragalactic detection of the reactive ion HOC+. Our conclusions favour an overall scenario where the CND of NGC 1068 has become a giant X-ray Dominated Region (XDR).To search for other articles by the author(s) go to: http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html