Several 8-substituted 1,3-dipropylxanthines were synthesized, and their receptor binding affinities at adenosine A1 and A2 receptors were measured. When enantiomeric pairs of compounds were examined, the R enantiomers were significantly more potent than the corresponding S enantiomers. The most potent compound at the A1 receptor was (R)-3,7-dihydro-8-(1-methyl-2-phenylethyl)-1,3-dipropyl-1H-purine-2,6-di one (5a; MDL 102,503), whose Ki value at the A1 receptor was 6.9 nM. However, a more selective compound was (R)-3,7-dihydro-8-(1-phenylpropyl)-1,3-dipropyl-1H-purine-2,6-dione (5d; MDL 102,234), which had a Ki value of 23.2 nM at the A1 receptor and an A2/A1 ratio of 153.