The mcarinic antagonist [N-methyl-'k I -scopolamine was synthesized by reductive methylation of norscopolamine with H CHO and sodium cyanoborohydride, and then purified using preparative high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Preliminary in vim studies in rat suggest the distribution of this compound to parallel with the mcarine receptor population in the brain.
11Key words : 1 N-Methyl-llC 1 -Scopolamine, llC-Formaldehyde, Muscarine Antagonist, Preparative HPLC.
INXIDUCTIONIn the central nervous system (CNS), m s t of the receptors which react with acetylcholine are of the mcarine type. Direct in vitro assessment of muscarine receptors in the brain became feasible with the advent of high affinity ligands of high specific radioactivity, including ( -) I H1-3-quinucli-3