6-Nitrocatecholamines were recently described as novel neuronal nitric oxide synthase inhibitors competing with both L-arginine and tetrahydrobiopterin (BH(4)). We report now that simple nitrocatechols are also competitive inhibitors, lacking however BH(4)-antagonizing properties. It is argued that 6-nitrocatecholamines interact with the L-arginine- and BH(4)-binding sites through the nitrocatechol and aminoethyl moieties, respectively.