A structure-activity relationship study of N-methyl-laudanosine, a SK channel blocker, has indicated that the 6,7-dimethoxy group could be successfully replaced by a hydrophobic moiety such as an isopropyl substituent in position 8 of the isoquinoline ring. In the present study, bis-(8-isopropyl-isoquinolinium) derivatives (2a-e) were synthesized and tested for their affinity for cloned SK2 and SK3 channels in comparison with their 6,7-dimethoxy analogues (4a-f). Several ligands were investigated, both in flexible (propyl, butyl and pentyl) and rigid (m- or p-xylyl) series, the m-xylyl derivative (2d) having the best profile in terms of affinity and selectivity for SK3/SK2 channels. Molecular studies showed that the optimal conformation of compound 2d fits well with our SK pharmacophore model.
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