Twelve novel derivatives of the selective class III antiarrhythmic agent sematilide were prepared in an attempt to incorporate both class I and class III electrophysiological properties into a single molecule. Electrophysiological activity was determined by standard microelectrode techniques in canine cardiac Purkinje fibers. Initial assessment of class I efficacy was carried out in a ouabain-induced arrhythmia model in guinea pigs. All of the compounds prolonged action potential duration in Purkinje fibers (class III activity), and three were active against ouabain-induced arrhythmias (class I activity). Selected compounds were evaluated further in dogs for efficacy against arrhythmias occurring 24 h following coronary ligation (automatic arrhythmias) and induced by using programmed electrical stimulation techniques (reentrant arrhythmias). The most effective compounds from the series are 3g and -j, which were effective in both canine models. Molecular modeling and structure-activity relationships are discussed.