Page "Neuromuscular-blocking drug" Paragraph 23

In recent years much research has been devoted to new types of quaternary ammonium muscle relaxants.

These are asymmetrical diester isoquinolinium compounds and bis-benzyltropinium compounds that are bistropinium salts of various diacids.

These classes have been developed to create muscle relaxants that are faster and shorter acting.

Both the asymmetric structure of diester isoquinolinium compounds and the acyloxylated benzyl groups on the bisbenzyltropiniums destabilizes them and can lead to spontaneous breakdown and therefore possibly a shorter duration of action.