Oxidation of Thiols by Superoxide Ion

Article abstract of DOI:10.1071/CH9842331

Superoxide ion oxidizes aromatic thiols to disulfides or sulfonic acids.Benzene-1,2-dithiol and its 4-methyl analogue formed the cyclic disulfides dibenzotetrathiocins.Aliphatic thiols gave disulfides, and ethane-1,2-dithiol and propane-1,3-dithiol formed the cyclic disulfides 1,2,5,6- tetrathiocan and 1,2,6,7-tetrathiecan respectively.Butane-1,4-dithiol underwent an intramolecular cyclization to 1,2-dithian.Cysteine was oxidized by O2 anion radical to cysteic acid.