Synergistic Activation of Nitrite and Thiocarbonyl Compounds Affords NO and Sulfane Sulfur via (Per)thionitrite (SNO⁻/SSNO⁻)

Abstract

(Per)thionitrite (SNO–/SSNO–) intermediates play vital roles in modulating nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) dependent bio‐signalling processes. Whilst the previous preparations of such intermediates involved reactive H2S/HS– or sulfane sulfur (S0) species, the present report reveals that relatively stable thiocarbonyl compounds (such as carbon disulfide (CS2), thiocarbamate, thioacetic acid, and thioacetate) react with nitrite anion to yield SNO–/SSNO–. For instance, the reaction of CS2 and nitrite anion (NO2‐) under ambient condition affords CO2 and SNO–/SSNO–. A detailed investigation involving UV‐vis, FTIR, HRMS, and multinuclear NMR studies confirm the formation of SNO–/SSNO–, which are proposed to form through an initial nucleophilic attack by nitrite anion followed by a transnitrosation step. Notably, reactions of CS2 and nitrite in the presence of thiol RSH show the formation of organic polysulfides R‐Sn‐R, thereby illustrating that the thiocarbonyls are capable of influencing the pool of bioavailable sulfane sulfurs. Furthermore, the availability of both NO2‐ and thiocarbonyl motifs in the biological context hints at their synergistic metal‐free activations leading to the generation of NO gas and various reactive sulfur species through SNO–/SSNO–.