Oxime Derivatives: A Valid Pharmacophore in Medicinal Chemistry

Abstract Oximes, belonging to imines with the general formula of RR'C=NOH, are produced by the nucleophilic addition reaction between hydroxylamine with ketones or aldehydes, yielding corresponding aldoxime and ketoxime. The presence of hydrogen bond acceptor and donor is the classical feature of oxime‐containing structural framework. This review presents a summary of the role of oximes and its structure activity relationships including antimicrobial, anticancer, anti‐inflammatory, antihyperglycemic, insecticidal agents, along with their involvement in the treatment of organophosphorus poisoning. The review also focused on the pharmacological profile of lead molecules of several classes of oxime‐containing compounds.