Quaternary salts of 2-[(hydroxyimino)methyl]imidazole. 5. Structure-activity relationships for side-chain nitro-, sulfone-, amino-, and aminosulfonyl-substituted analogues for therapy against anticholinesterase intoxication.

Several quaternary imidazolium oxime derivatives incorporating side chains bearing nitro, sulfone, amino, and aminosulfonyl substituents were prepared and evaluated as treatment therapeutics for anti-AChE intoxication. In vivo test results in the mouse revealed that many of these compounds are highly effective in providing life-saving protection against the extremely toxic cholinesterase inhibitors soman and tabun. Several structure-activity relationships were noted that were characteristic of the side-chain substituent. In vivo test results for additional selected derivatives of some of the more therapeutically active compounds indicated that the quaternary heteroaryl nucleus is essential for activity whereas a nucleophilic moiety (i.e., oxime) is not. In support of previous suspicions, these results afforded additional evidence suggesting that reactivation is not the main mode of antidotal action by the imidazolium oximes. An alternative antidotal mechanism is postulated that is consistent with all data and that involves enzyme protection by the compounds.