Reactivators of organophosphate-inhibited cholinesterase. Phenylhydroxymethyl and cyclohexylhydroxymethyl substituted bis-pyridinium monooximes.

Eleven isomeric phenylhydroxymethyl and cyclohexylhydroxymethyl derivatives of 1-(2-hydroxyiminomethyl-1-pyridinio)-3-(1-pyridinio)-2-oxapropane diiodide and 1-(4-hydroxyiminomethyl-1-pyridinio)-3-(1-pyridinio)-2-oxapropane diiodide were prepared and characterized by spectroscopic methods and pKa values. The inhibitory power (I50) of the investigated oximes was determined on purified bovine erythrocyte AChE and human erythrocyte AChE. Percentage of reactivation after 30 min was estimated after inhibition of human erythrocyte AChE by sarin, VX, and paraoxon.