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Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society (BKCS)

ISSN 0253-2964(Print)
ISSN 1229-5949(Online)
Volume 29, Number 1
BKCSDE 29(1)
January 20, 2008 

 
Title
Methimazole-disulfide as an Anti-thyroid Drug Metabolite Catalyzed the Highly Regioselective Conversion of Epoxides to Halohydrins with Elemental Halogens
Author
H. Eshghi*, S. F. Tayyari, Z. Rezvani-Amin, H. Roohi
Keywords
Anti-thyroid drug, Methimazole, Ring opening, Polyiodide, Halohydrins
Abstract
The regioselective ring opening of epoxides using elemental iodine and bromine in the presence of methimazole (MMI, a anti-thyroid drug) and its metabolite methimazole-disulfide as new catalysts are studied. MMI easily converted in vitro to MMI-disulfide without any double activation presented in vivo. FT-Raman and UV spectroscopies are used to study the interaction of iodine with these catalysts. The results indicate that both catalysts are efficient in polyiodide formation, but MMI-disulfide can catalyze this reaction in higher yield and regioselectivity. The complex [(MMI-disulfide)I]+.I3? is considered to be formed initially which could be bulkier by addition of excess of iodine in the course of the reaction. These bulky nucleophiles have a fundamental role in the high regioselectivity by attacking the less sterically hindered epoxide carbon. In this study we suggest that MMI is readily converted to MMI-disulfide by interaction with iodine or activated iodine in thyroid gland, and this process is responsible for high anti-thyroid activity of MMI.
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