SULFONIUM COMPOUNDS AND THE AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

¹ From the Pharmacological Laboratory of the Harvard Medical School and the Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, New York University

Compounds of the betaine esters and choline type in which the nitrogen atom was replaced by sulfur have the same effects upon the autonomic nervous system as do the analogous nitrogen compounds. The sulfur compounds were less active than the nitrogen compounds.

The betaines were almost inactive.

The methyl ester of carboxymethyl-dimethylsulfonium hydroxide has marked muscarine and stimulating nicotine actions.

The ethyl ester of carboxymethyl-di-n-propylsulfonium hydroxide has only a paralyzing nicotine action.

The phenyl ether of hydroxyethyl-dimethylsulfonium hydroxide has an intense stimulating nicotine action.

Methyldibenzyl-sulfonium nitrate has little or no muscarine action; it did not have a typical nicotine action, either stimulating or paralyzing.