5-Azidoepibatidine: an exceptionally potent photoaffinity ligand for neuronal α4β2 and α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

Racemic 5-azidoepibatidine [(±)-1] was synthesized via 5-aminoepibatidine as a candidate photoaffinity ligand with exceptionally high affinity at the mammalian neuronal nicotinic receptors (Ki values of 0.027 nM for α4β2 and 9.7 nM for α7) and excellent photoreactivity.