Asoxime chloride

Asoxime chloride, or more commonly HI-6, is a Hagedorn oxime used in the treatment of organophosphate poisoning.

Discovery

HI-6 was developed in the 1968 in Ilse Hagedorn's lab at the University of Freiburg in then West Germany as a potent antidote for poisoning by organophosphorus nerve agents. The compound was created in response to limitations of earlier oxime antidotes, which were effective against some nerve agents but failed to protect against others such as soman.

Structure

Much line pralidoxime, asoxime and other oximes created in the Hagedorn lab are pyridine oximes, sharing the same structural feature of a byspyridinium nucleus. Position 2 and 4 on one of the pyridine rings is essential for pharmacological activity, as is position 4 on the second ring for both efficacy and toxic effects alike. Amidation on the second ring at position 4 is essential for reducing toxicity of the derivative compounds.