[Role of the hydrophobicity of monoquaternary ammonium compounds in the mechanism of their curariform action].

The lengthening of the alkyl radical at the quaternary nitrogen atom (from -C2H5 to -C20H41) in the series of alkyltrimethylammonium compounds was found to lead to a gradually growing hydrophobicity of the compound. A change in the mechanism responsible for the myoparalytic action of the compound is due to a mounting degree of hydrophobicity. With the methyl group in the molecule of tetramethylammonium replaced with polyalicyclic radicals (bornyl, adamantyl) the compound, acting after a non-depolarizing type, possess a greater degree of hyrophobicity than do substances of the depolarizing type.