A series of potent neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) ligands based on a 3,8-diazabicyclo[4.2.0]octane core have been synthesized and evaluated for affinity and agonist efficacy at the human highaffinity nicotine recognition site (h
4
2) and in a rat model of persistent nociceptive pain (formalin model).Numerous analogs in this series exhibit picomolar affinity in radioligand binding assays and nanomolaragonist potency in functional assays, placing them among the most potent nAChR ligands known for theh
4
2 receptor. Several of the compounds reported in this study (i.e.,
24,
25,
28,
30,
32, and
47) exhibitequivalent or greater affinity for the h
4
2 receptor relative to epibatidine, and like epibatidine, manyexhibit robust analgesic efficacy in the rat formalin model of persistent pain.