Neuromuscular blocking agents: branched-chain tetra-onium compounds

Abstract

Abstract The compounds tri(6-dimethylaminohexyl)amine, tri(6-diethylaminohexyl)amine and tri(6-dipropylaminohexyl)amine have been synthesised and eight tetra-onium derivatives prepared from these bases have been tested for neuromuscular blocking activity on the cat, hen, frog, rat and mouse. Two of the compounds possessed ganglion blocking activity and this was much weaker than in hexamethonium. All the compounds had tubocurarine-like properties, the most active being 7-ethyl-7-(6-triethyl-hexylammonium)-7-azoniatridecamethylenebis(triethylammonium) tetra-iodide. The results of the pharmacological tests give little support for a one-point theory of receptor attachment.