Interconversion, of thiols and disulfides

The oxidative properties of lipoic acid (see p. 51) also depend on the ease of interconversion of thiol and disulfide bonds. Methionine (34) is one of the eight essential amino acids for human nutrition and is deficient in the diet of vegans luckily, this amino acid can be synthesised for use as a nutritive food additive. One synthetic route uses 2-chloroethyl methyl sulfide (36) and phthalimide (37), as shown in Scheme 24. 

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