Arena_1975_J.Med.Chem_18_1147

The synthesis of styrylpyridine methiodides where a hydrogen of the pyridyl moiety was replaced by the hydroxyiminomethyl group produced highly effective inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase. As starting materials 4-methylpyridine-2-aldoxime and 2-methylpyridine-4-aldoxime methiodides were prepared which, together with 4-imidazolylethenyl-pyridine-2-aldoxime methiodide, were the only substances for which some activity as reactivators of phosphorylated electric eel cholinesterase in vitro could also be found.