The Ganglionic Blocking Activity of A Series Of Tertiary Sulphonium Quaternary Ammonium Salts

Abstract

Abstract A number of polymethylene bis-tertiary sulphonium quaternary ammonium salts have been examined for their ganglionic blocking activity on the superior cervical ganglion of the cat. The effect of substituting different alkyl groups on the sulphur and nitrogen atoms and varying the length of the polymethylene chain has been investigated. Maximum activity was found in the tetramethylene di-ethyl sulphonium tri-ethyl ammonium salt, which was about three times as active as hexamethonium. With tri-, penta- and hexamethylene salts maximum activity occurs when there are a total of 13 to 15 carbon atoms in the molecule. It is concluded that the substitution of sulphur for nitrogen in the bis-quaternary ammonium salts does not necessarily lead to a reduction in relative potency. The importance of the groupings on the “onium” centres in producing ganglionic block is stressed.