New antiarrhythmic agents. N-aryl-8-pyrrolizidinealkanamides.

The synthesis and antiarrhythmic activity of N-aryl-8-pyrrolizidinealkanamides are described. The target compounds were evaluated for their ability to protect against chloroform-induced fibrillation in mice. Many of them were found to have antifibrillatory activity comparable to that of lidocaine; several are more potent than lidocaine. N-(2,6-Dimethylphenyl)-8-pyrrolizidineacetamide which was found to be more potent and less toxic (LD50) than lidocaine, also showed a long duration of action in dogs with ventricular arrhythmias after oral administration.