New efficient imidazolium aldoxime reactivators for nerve agent-inhibited acetylcholinesterase.

Herein, we described a new class of uncharged non-pyridinium reactivators for nerve agent-inhibited acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Based on a dual site binding strategy, we conjugated the imidazolium aldoxime to different peripheral site ligands (PSLs) of AChE through alkyl chains. Compared with the known quaternary pyridinium reactivators, two of the resulting conjugates (7g and 7h) were highlighted to be the first efficient non-pyridinium oxime conjugates exhibiting similar or superior ability to reactivate sarin-, VX- and tabun-inhibited AChE. Moreover, they were more broad-spectrum reactivators.