In-vitro regeneration of sarin inhibited electric eel acetylcholinesterase by bis-pyridinium oximes bearing xylene linker.

A series of bis-pyridinium oximes connected by xylene linker were synthesized and their in-vitro reactivation potential was evaluated against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibited by nerve agent, sarin. Among the synthesized compounds, alpha,alpha'xylene-bis-[3,3'-(hydroxyiminomethyl) pyridinium] dibromide (3b) was found to be most potent reactivator for AChE inhibited by sarin. The oxime 3b exhibits 34% regeneration of inhibited AChE, in comparison to 20 and 15% regeneration by 2-PAM and obidoxime, respectively, at a concentration of 10(-4) M within 10 min.