J Appl Biomed 2:51-56, 2004

Synthesis of the three monopyridinium oximes and evaluation of their potency to reactivate acetylcholinesterase inhibited by nerve agents

Kamil Kuča^1,*, Jan Pícha², Jiří Cabal¹, František Liška²

¹ Purkyně Military Medical Academy, Department of Toxicology, 500 01 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic

² Institute of Chemical Technology, Department of Organic Chemistry, 166 28 Praha 6, Czech Republic

Three potential reactivators of nerve agents-inhibited acetylcholinesterase: 2-[(hydroxyimino)phenylmethyl]-1-methylpyridinium iodide

3a, 2-[(hydroxyimino)pyridin-2-ylmethyl]-1-methylpyridinium iodide

3b and 2-[(1-hydroxyimino) ethyl]-1-methylpyridinium iodide

3c were synthesized. Their reactivation potency was examined using a standard in vitro reactivation test. A rat brain homogenate was used as the source of acetylcholinesterase. Their reactivation potency was compared with a currently used acetylcholinesterase reactivator - 2-PAM (pralidoxime)

4. All tested reactivators were less effective acetylcholinesterase reactivators compared to 2-PAM. In this study, we also tested the reactivation potency of the oxime 2-PAM against inhibition of acetylcholinesterase by sarin, cyclosarin, VX and tabun. Satisfactory results are shown only for the reactivation sarin- and VX-inhibited acetylcholinesterase.

Keywords: VX; reactivation; acetylcholinesterase; oximes; sarin; tabun; cyclosarin

Received: May 23, 2003; Revised: October 3, 2003; Published: March 31, 2004  Show citation