Diazaspirocyclic ligands have been synthesized in four steps as selective α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonists. Structural assignment of 1-(pyridin-3-yl)-2- spiropyrrolidino-3, 2′-1-azabiclo [2.2. 1] heptane 2, was confirmed using a combination of NMR experiments on a key intermediate, spirolactam 9. All three target compounds synthesized in this diazaspirocyclic series exhibited high affinity (Ki< 35nM) at the human ...