No abstract

A new synthesis of unsymmetrical disulfides is described. The reaction of a thiol R1SH with 1-chlorobenzotriazole (BtCl) at -78 degrees C in DCM affords a high-yielding conversion to R1SBt without appreciable formation of the symmetrical disulfide R1SSR1. R1SBt is then reacted with R2SH to form the unsymmetrical disulfide in a one-pot sequence with green character that avoids the use of toxic and harsh oxidizing agents. The methodology has been developed for synthesis of various types of disulfides.

No abstract

The ability of garlic preparations to inhibit cancer cell-growth has been attributed to a group of structurally-related organosulfur compounds found in the crushed clove. Historically, interest has centred on three such compounds as allicin, diallyl disulfide and diallyl trisulfide, with less interest on E- and Z-ajoene. A recently developed synthetic route from our laboratory for preparing ajoene analogues allows access to derivatives containing the sulfoxide / vinyl disulfide core whilst varying the terminal end-group functionality. A small library has been synthesized and an advanced lead with p-methoxybenzyl end groups (8) identified. Data on the in vitro anti-proliferation activity of compound (8) is presented here against six cancer cell-lines in comparison with that of Z- and E-ajoene to reveal an enhancement in activity of up to twelvefold. In addition, a modest selectivity is observed for tumour over normal cell-lines of up to threefold. Data on ajoene and its derivatives is presented in the context of chemosensitization in drug-resistance, and ideas on ajoene's mode of action at the molecular level are presented and discussed.

Consideration of the underlying features responsible for garlic-allicin's antimicrobial activity as well as its instability has prompted an investigation into substituted S-aryl alkylthiolsulfinates as a class of garlic mimic with enhanced stability. Synthesis of the targets has inspired the development of new methods for synthesizing unsymmetrical aralkyl disulfides, which are then oxidized to the targets. Some simple representatives have been synthesized, setting the scene for a full SAR study of this relatively unexplored class of thiolsulfinate.