Schowen_1975_J.Med.Chem_18_292

The base- and cholinestrase-catalyzed hydrolyses of the following optically active analogs of acetylcholine were studied: 3 (a)-trimethylammonium-2(a)-acetoxy-trans-decalin iodide, threo- and erythro-alpha, beta-dimethylacetylcholine iodide, alpha-methylacetylcholine, and beta-methylacetylcholine. Evidence that the optimum dihedral +N-C-C-O angle in the transition state for acetylcholinesterase hydrolysis of acetylcholine analogs is positive and anticlinal is given. The data obtained suggest that acetylcholine undergoes a geometrically flexible mode of attachment to the enzyme.