Moffatt oxidation of 2',3'-O-isopropylidene-L-adenosine and treatment of the resulting crude 5'-aldehyde with hydroxylamine followed by deprotection gave L-adenosine 5'-carboxaldehyde oximes, whose enantiomers are known to be potent inhibitors of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine (AdoHcy) hydrolase. The L-adenosine and its 5'-aldehyde oxime derivatives were found to be inactive as inhibitors of AdoHcy hydrolase. Docking calculations showed that binding of L-adenosine to AdoHcy hydrolase is weaker (higher energy) and less specific (larger number of clusters) compared to D-Ado.