1. Dequalinium chloride (DECA) and three related quinolinium compounds inhibit bovine heart mitochondrial and Paracoccus denitrificans electron transport activity, with inhibition localized between NADH and ubiquinone in both electron transport chains. 2. Structure-activity studies reveal that two quinolinium rings and a long bridging group are necessary for significant inhibition of reduction of artificial electron acceptors and coenzyme Q, whereas only one quinolinium ring and a long hydrocarbon side chain are required for significant inhibition of NADH oxidase activity. 3. Inhibition of coenzyme Q reduction by DECA is not reversed by dialysis. 4. Studies comparing DECA inhibition of rotenone-sensitive with rotenone-insensitive preparations indicate that DECA acts by a different inhibitory mechanism than rotenone on mammalian mitochondrial and P. denitrificans NADH----ubiquinone reductase.