Synthesis and receptor affinities of new 3-quinuclidinyl alpha-heteroaryl-alpha-aryl-alpha-hydroxyacetates.

Five analogues of 3-quinuclidinyl benzilate were prepared in which one phenyl ring was substituted by a heterocycle; a bromine was included on either the remaining phenyl or the heterocycle to provide information relating to the affinity of potential radiohalogenated derivatives. Their affinities for the muscarinic cholinergic receptor were determined. Replacing a phenyl ring with either the 2- or 3-furyl moiety or the 2- or 3-thienyl moiety did not significantly alter the affinity to the muscarinic receptor compared with 3-quinuclidinyl 4-bromobenzilate.