Nicotine exerts a number of different effects on the nervous system by interacting with neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). These effects are mediated by its interaction with different nAChR subtypes, and this has led to the finding of subtype specific agonists and antagonists. In the search for subtype-selective drugs, we have synthesized some compounds derived from 4-oxystilbene, two of which (MG624 and F3) are selective ligands for the chick neuronal αBgtx receptors containing the α7 and /or α8 subunits. They have an antagonist action on oocyte-expressed chick and rat α7 subtypes. These compounds are selective toward the α7-containing receptors in chick, but, in mammals, although they still retain their potency toward α7-containing receptors, they are also active in non-α7-containing receptors.