Treatment of 2-methyl-4, 5-dimethoxybenzonitrile (3) with LDA followed by reaction with an N, N-disubstituted cyanamide provided a series of 1, 3-diamino-6, 7-dimethoxyisoquinolines (2), which were evaluated for a-adrenoceptor binding affinity and antihypertensive activity. l- Amino-3-(dimethylamino)-6, 7-dimethoxyisoquinoline(4) showed no significant affinity (Ki>> lo4 M) for e,-adrenoceptors, while the corresponding 3-(2-furoylpiperazin-l-yl) analogue (8 ...