Solid phase synthesis of peptides containing a phosphoserine - sulfur mustard adduct

Synthesis of different glutathione–sulfur mustard adducts of verified and potential biomarkers

Recently, several adducts between the chemical agent sulfur mustard (SM) and glutathione (GSH) were observed in vitro. We report the synthesis of different observed and potential GSH–SM bioadducts as reference materials for analytical investigation.

Evidence for a Morin type intramolecular cyclization of an alkene with a phenylsulfenic acid group in neutral aqueous solution

Sulfenic acids (RSOH) are among the most common sulfur-centered reactive intermediates generated in biological systems. Given the biological occurrence of sulfenic acids, it is important to explore the reactivity of these intermediates under physiological conditions. The Morin rearrangement is a synthetic process developed for the conversion of penicillin derivatives into cephalosporins that proceeds via nucleophilic attack of an alkene on a sulfenic acid intermediate. In its classic form, the Morin reaction involves initial elimination of a sulfenic acid from a cyclic sulfoxide, followed by intramolecular cyclization of the resulting alkene and sulfenic acid groups to generate an episulfonium ion intermediate that undergoes further reaction to yield ring-expanded products. On the basis of the existing literature, it is difficult to assess whether the reaction between an alkene and a sulfenic group can occur under mild conditions because the conditions required to generate the sulfenic acid from the sulfoxide precursor in the Morin reaction typically involve high temperatures and strong acid. In the work described here, beta-sulfinylketone precursors were used to generate a "Morin type" sulfenic acid intermediate under mild conditions. This approach made it possible to demonstrate that the intramolecular cyclization of an alkene with a phenylsulfenic acid to generate an episulfonium ion intermediate can occur in neutral aqueous solution at room temperature.