Alcohol dehydrogenases and related aldehyde reductase enzymes catalyze the oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes and the simultaneous reduction of a nicotinamide derivative (NAD+ or NADP+) to the corresponding 1, 4-dihydronicotinamide. Herein we report the design and synthesis of a stable transition state analog for this hydride transfer process. Compound 1 is a rigid [3.2. 2] bicyclic structure containing 3-piperidone oxime as a mimic for 1, 4- ...